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Archives » 2002 » Volume 55 , Issue 13, Published on Wednesday, March 27, 2002NewsDebate over design
City guidelines may not restrain subjectivity over look of homes When Alison Hussey was looking for a site for a new house, she was attracted by the seeming friendliness and quiet nature of Los Altos. Likewise, when Peggy McGrath and Anita Kapadia moved their families to Los Altos a few years ago, they admired the look and feel of the town. Day workers volunteer labor to day-care center
A group of local day workers gathered along Jordan Avenue in Los Altos last week for something other than employment. About 50 or so workers volunteered their time Wednesday and Thursday mornings to landscape the front yard of a day-care center across the street from the former St. Joseph the Worker Center, as part of a self-organized community service program. Worker Gonzalo Garcia, who helped organize the project, said he and the other workers wanted to give something back to the community. Los Altos Garden Supply donated the sod, tan bark, plants and other materials needed to renovate the yard. The workers provided their services. MV Fire Station No. 2 back in service at Grant & CuestaThe new Fire Station No. 2 opened for operation last week at the corner of Cuesta Drive and Grant Road in Mountain View, giving firefighters and the public improved services at the western end of town. The $1.8 million-$1.9 million structure is approximately twice the size of the previous station at the site, said Battalion Chief Richard Alameda. The original station, built in 1962, was demolished last year to make room for the new 5,000-square-foot building. Lassen project spurs city to alter affordable housing policyThe story of a Los Altos neighborhood disgruntled over the size of a proposed condominium project may not initially sound out of the ordinary in a city where the battle to retain the area’s rural character seems to play out on nearly every street. The developer typically pushes for a larger development than residents think is reasonable for their neighborhood. The Lassen Street project had an uncommon twist, however, that eventually prompted the Los Altos City Council to change specific zoning laws and revamp the city’s affordable housing policy last week. News BriefsCouncil to accept bicycle plan The Los Altos City Council was scheduled to accept a bicycle transportation plan Tuesday that includes more than $2.5 million in potential improvements to the city’s bikeway system. MV church may provide temporary work center for evicted day workersLocal day laborers are prepared to set up a temporary work center at a Mountain View church pending city approval, said John Rinaldi, a Mountain View resident and volunteer attorney who is negotiating the deal for the day workers. Rinaldi said last week he could not reveal the name of the church until negotiations were complete. The workers need the city’s approval before moving forward with the plan so the center may qualify for grant money from various agencies to upgrade the power and water lines at the site. LAH Council defers decision on vacating Carse pathway easement until MayAfter meeting in closed session to discuss a letter from a San Francisco law firm retained by a group of residents, the Los Altos Hills City Council decided last Thursday to postpone deciding on a controversial off-road pathway easement vacation. The deferral to mid-May allows town staff time to complete a more detailed report. The letter did not threaten imminent legal action. However, attorney Rachel Hooper, of Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, advised the council that the staff report on vacating a pathway easement on Greg and Sandra Carse’s property, and amending the General Plan to allow for the vacation, failed to comply with two state laws. The Committee for the Preservation of Los Altos Hills retained Hooper’s firm because, according to a press release, it believes vacating the Carse easement “could open the floodgates and lead to requests to vacate at least another 30 easements that have not yet been activated or that await the dedication of the final links in their respective trail chains.” Council members and staff received the letter earlier in the day. OpinionLetters to the EditorI certainly hope that the Los Altos Hills City Council keeps the current off-road pathway system. It is such a pleasure to be able to walk the dog around 5 o’clock as it cools off, away from the main roads and heavy traffic. In the Town Crier article about the pathway system, one resident was quoted as saying that the off-road paths were OK in the past when the lots were bigger. My dog and I: dreams of runningBlue Jeans & Jelly Beans Last year about this time, I had just become the proud owner of a wonderful dog named Blaze. Blaze was an eager young black Labrador retriever with no manners whatsoever who needed to be worn out every day if he wasn’t going to eat my furniture. The quality assurance masqueradeOther Voices For years, I have been dutifully filling out quality assurance surveys from manufacturers of all types who ostensibly cared about my enjoyment of their product, and their desire to make it better. I became suspicious when my numerous comments and constructive criticisms (most, brilliantly insightful, I might add) fell upon non-responsive desks. Pretty soon I stopped filling them out. CommunityReno stands tall on term as attorney generalTown Crier Correspondent The first thing you notice about Janet Reno is her distinctive voice and her stature. At 6 feet 2 inches, the former U.S. Attorney General stands taller than Dick Henning, the moderator of Foothill College’s Celebrity Forum. The road from Los Altos: Systan’s influence proves wide-rangingThe corporate headquarters of Systan, Inc. is a small office, filled with files and stacks of paperwork, on Second Street in downtown Los Altos. Yet the size of the office does not reflect the wide-ranging transportation research for governmental agencies, commercial enterprises and international organizations Systan’s professional consultants have conducted in the 36 years it has been in operation. Two of Systan’s industrial engineers, Roy Lave and John Billheimer, have influenced others’ lives not through their transportation research, but also by what they do on their own time. Lave has volunteered many hours to community service over the years. Billheimer is the author of three mystery novels about Owen Allison, a California transportation expert who becomes entangled in corruption and murder whenever he returns to his native West Virginia. Ugandan youths play to support country’s orphansTown Crier Editorial Intern Imagine growing up in a country beset by a severe AIDS epidemic, high illiteracy rates and civil war. Then imagine rising from that adversity to sing and dance the cultures of your homeland in an effort to aid its people. Proposed boundaries for Los Altos once involved parcel north of El Camino RealLos Altos - Celebrating 50 years The year 2002 marks the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Los Altos. During the year, this column will cover what our predecessor newspapers reported 50 years ago. Community BriefsThe Student Art Show, presented features artwork by students in the Los Altos School District and Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District. The show will be held April 4-7 at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave. Schools a big factor in purchase of homesOne of the phrases most often heard in the real estate business is “location, location, location.” As the mantra of realtors, the emphasis on location is one of the most important criteria when considering the purchase of a home that my be the largest investment a potential homeowner can make. For many people, the right school district is also at the top of the list as the most significant factor influencing a buyer’s decision to purchase a home. That’s one of the main reasons why people want to live in communities like Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. It’s also why home values remain high in certain areas as opposed to others. Nominations sought for realtors’ 2002 Community Service AwardDo you know someone who has given generously of his or her time, leadership, experience and heart to help those in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills or Mountain View? If you do, the Los Altos-Mountain View District of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors invites you to submit a nomination for its annual Community Service Award. The Los Altos Board of Realtors established the Community Service Award in 1964 as an expression of appreciation for the many unsung volunteers. The Los Altos-Mountain View District of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors continues this tradition by honoring that person who best contributed in a meaningful way to the quality, spirit and character of our communities. Schools‘Clothesline Project’ gets Foothill College thinking about domestic violenceT-shirts of different colors, decorated with powerful images and messages relating to domestic violence and abuse, hung on a clothesline at Foothill College last week. It was a public art display meant to be provocative, meaningful and disturbing. The “Clothesline Project” began in 1990, when members of the Cape Cod Women’s Agenda hung a clothesline in Hyannis, Mass., with 31 shirts designed by survivors of assault, rape and incest. The project has spawned over 300 Clothesline projects nationally and internationally. NoteworthiesThe Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District has selected the following students to receive the Board of Trustees’ Student of the Month Award during the first semester of the 2001-02 school year: October 2001: Lexie Mauel, David Ochoa, Aarash Kioumehr. Schools BriefsA free seminar, “Understanding Learning Disabilities,” is being offered to parents, teachers and anyone else interested in learning about attention deficit disorder, dysgraphia, dyslexia and more, 7-9 p.m., tomorrow, at Southbay Christian School, 1134 Miramonte Ave., Mountain View. For more information, call 961-9485. ‘Grad Night 2002′ fund-raiser Questions and answers about Measure A, a parcel tax increaseQ: What is Measure A? A: Measure A, originally approved in 1989, provides funds for the educational program in schools in the Los Altos School District through a special parcel tax collected annually. Voters must approve authorization to spend parcel tax funds every four years as required by the Gann Appropriations Limit. Citizens 65 years and older can apply annually for an exemption from the tax. The tax is fully deductible from both federal and state income taxes. Warning signs of a battering personality1. Quick involvement. Comes on strong, claiming, “I never felt loved like this by anyone.” Pressures you for an exclusive commitment almost immediately. 2. Jealousy. Excessively possessive, calls constantly or visits unexpectedly. SportsSports On The SideBob Anderson of Los Altos placed ninth in the men’s division of the Fifty-Plus Fitness Association 8-Kilometer Road Race, held March 17 at Stanford University. Anderson, 54, ran the race in 29 minutes, 35 seconds. Getting ship-shape Boys power Mtn. View badminton teamSpring Sports Summary hile the Mountain View High badminton team has more girls than it did last season, coach Kelly Kuboyama admits he probably needs a few more for the Spartans to challenge for the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League title. St. Francis takes big step toward winning WCALIf the St. Francis High boys tennis team hopes to win the West Catholic Athletic League title, coach Gary Dinneen said his Lancers must “get the monkey off our backs.” That “monkey” is rival Bellarmine, which has driven St. Francis bananas in recent years. The Lancers failed to beat the Bells the past two seasons and finished second in the league as a result. Homestead senior Feizzadeh earns spot on Bay Area All-Star Scholarship TeamTown Crier Intern When one of Joseph Feizzadeh’s teachers at Homestead High encouraged him to apply for the Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team, he didn’t expect to receive one of the six scholarships up for grabs. Clement enters community college hall of fameFormer Foothill College president Dr. Thomas H. Clement was inducted into the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame last Thursday in Reno. The induction ceremony was part of the fifth annual Commission on Athletics Convention. The COA is the governing body for community college sports in California. Lancers stung by King’s late runSFHS loses state title game by 1 Throughout the Northern California Division II boys basketball playoffs, none of St. Francis High’s opponents could overcome the Lancers’ relentless pressure defense and push-it-when-possible offense. Davis’ grand slam helps Mountain View down Los AltosTown Crier Correspondent Eric Davis, dropped to ninth in the batting order to soothe his hitting slump, snapped out of his doldrums in a grand fashion last Thursday. Aztecs eliminated in 1st round of league playoffsAlta Vista High, a continuation school in Mountain View, bowed out in the opening round of the South Bay Big Five league playoffs March 20 at Cubberley Community Center. The host Aztecs fell 52-45 to Peninsula, a team that later lost to Brenkwitz in the championship game. BusinessPossible interest-rate hike whacks the stock marketStock Report The Fed’s comments last week about possible higher interests rates caused the Dow Jones industrial average to break its streak of five consecutive weekly gains. TouchPoll offers surveys on the spotBusinesses and institutions require feedback from their clientele, but the process of selecting survey questions and collecting and tabulating data often can be lengthy and sometimes prohibitively expensive. Los Altos resident Debbie Appler said her new business, TouchPoll Survey Solutions, offers a practical solution: an on-site computer touch-screen survey system with instantly tabulated results at a cost even smaller businesses or institutions can afford. Transactions1619 Crestview Drive - W. Dustman to C. & T. Tran for $630,500.00 151 Fremont Avenue - M. & A. Klimowicz to Kuiper Trust for $710,000.00 Rx for business successAt first glance, drawing parallels between managing an emergency room and managing a business might seem an unlikely premise for a book. But even a skeptical reader should be convinced just a few pages into “Management Lessons from the E.R.: Prescriptions for Success in Your Business” that physician/ entrepreneur Paul Auerbach offers practical advice on navigating the inevitable situations that every business faces. Your HomeWhen it comes to this room, it’s time to take a powderA Side of Clyde There’s a room in our house that I seldom use - by request. We have bedrooms upstairs that are used only when the grandkids or company come to visit, but the room I’m referring to is the powder room off the kitchen. Here comes the sun: Solar electricity system powers this Los Altos homeJan Pepper doesn’t worry about PG&E rate hikes. Nor is she subject to rolling blackouts. And instead of watching her PG&E meter roll forward, she actually sees it turn backward from time to time. In September, Pepper installed a solar electricity system in her Los Altos home and has been enjoying the benefits since. Pepper said she got the system because it is environmentally friendly and she felt it was the socially responsible thing to do. ‘Palm Doctor’ makes house callsAfter witnessing the profusion of unhealthy palm trees in the area, Los Altan Jim Denz decided to do something about it. An active member of the International Palm Society and the Palm Society of Southern California, Denz created a business called The Palm Doctor, focused on planting and revitalizing palm trees. One of the main problems that Denz sees with respect to palms is improper soil preparation. “Most landscapers don’t consider palm trees’ special needs when they plant them and those palms soon go into decline,” Denz said. Many palms come from rain forest environments where the soil is loose and well-draining, whereas the local soil has a high clay content. Thus, planting areas must be appropriately amended for palms to thrive. How safe is your home safe? Security-conscious residents want to knowTown Crier Correspondent The Town Crier recently ran a news item that noted, “Four recent residential burglaries in the city of Los Altos have added to a long string of daytime burglaries going back to November.” Resident brings fusion to his gardenIn the Bay Area, where a multitude of cultures merge, most locals are familiar with the concept of fusion which involves blending several different parts together to create a unified whole. The region is home to some of the finest fusion restaurants, many talented musicians who combine a range of musical styles and a slew of cross-cultural festivals. One Los Altos resident, Jim Denz, has embraced the concept of fusion and taken it into yet another environment - his garden. Denz took over his parents’ garden when he was 8 years old and has tended it ever since. Initially, Denz’s garden was fairly ordinary with a deodar cedar, Hollywood juniper and several olive trees framing a lawn that dominated the yard. Under his care, the garden has evolved to include carpet roses, ivy, manicured boxwood, ferns, a Japanese maple, several vines, fruit trees, cacti and 35 species of palms. A focal point of the current garden is a Mexican fan palm that Denz bought for 49 cents in 1970 when nurseries still sold plants in tin cans. A question for the ages: How long do appliances last in your house?Town Crier Correspondent Throughout the house: Stylish living inside and outTown Crier Correspondent Barbara and Jerry Arden make the most of their rebuilt residence in Los Altos Hills What’s underfoot? Plenty of ‘Flooring Options’Town Crier Correspondent After 32 years as a training consultant to floor retailers and manufacturers, Buzz Thayer opened Flooring Options of Los Altos. A third- generation home furnishings retailer, he is especially well acquainted with new trends in kitchen flooring. |
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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