Helping amid the horror

LAH resident works among Afghan refugees in Pakistan

A call to help

Petty to return to refugee camps with solar cooking program

Los Altos Hills resident Laila Petty has been cooking in her back yard nearly every day since January, using a piece of cardboard, tin foil and a plastic bag in preparation for her trek to the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan this month, where she plans to launch a long-term solar cooking program.

Petty spent four months in the Jalozai refugee camp last year distributing food to approximately 58,000 people.

Day workers open new Mtn. View center

The opening of a temporary worker center at Calvary Church in Mountain View May 1 provided local day laborers their first opportunity to move off the street since St. Joseph the Worker Center in Los Altos closed six months ago.

“It opened at a good time,” said volunteer Job Lopez, pointing to last week’s gray, foreboding sky.

St. Nicholas caught in clerical controversy

Town Crier Correspondent

Church forum probes the behavior of former pastor

Parish reacts quickly to allegations against priest

Town Crier Correspondent

The St. Nicholas Catholic Church community found itself at the center of the current exposé of clerical sexual abuse when the April 25 San Jose Mercury News reported the alleged molestation of two boys 25 years ago at St. Martin of Tours, San Jose, allegedly by their pastor, Joseph T. Pritchard.

Budget cuts could delay opening of Covington School

Officials consider cutting $4.5 million from budget in wake of parcel-tax defeat

The Los Altos School District’s Budget Review Committee met May 2 to recommend budget cuts totaling $4.5 million, to offset the district’s projected deficit for the 2002-03 school year.

Majority of LAH council say they support sale of Westwind Barn

Most of the Los Altos Hills City Council members recently expressed interest in selling the town-owned Westwind Barn property, confirming rumors that have circulated among residents since mid-January.

While several council members said they would consider selling the land only if the landmark Altamont Road horse stables could be moved to adjacent Byrne Preserve, some Westwind supporters fear the property might be sold even if the barn can’t be moved legally.

No suspect in helicopter search

A May 2 burglary at a residence between Magdalena Avenue and El Monte Road in unincorporated Los Altos Hills spurred a suspect search that involved assistance from a low-flying San Jose police helicopter and mutiple inquiries from curious residents.

Sheriff’s deputy Terrance Helm with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department said San Jose police had a helicopter in the area and assisted deputies in the search for a suspect who was “never located, never spotted.” Officers responded to a call from residents who discovered their home had been burglarized and jewelry stolen.

Revised pathways map in the works

Los Altos Hills

Following years of debate and delays, Los Altos Hills may be nearing resolution in adopting an updated version of its 1981 Master Path Plan map.

Letters to the Editor

I’m a Los Altos parent of two active girls, one of whom is a talented swimmer and one a talented volleyball player. In supporting my older daughter’s aquatics, I’ve had the opportunity to visit pools all over California. I think I’ve driven my daughter to a meet at every pool on the Peninsula and South Bay at one time or another. I’m proud that she swam for her college team at UOP.

The old Covington Pool didn’t measure up to the pools in our neighboring towns. Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale have all upgraded their pools in the past 10 years. Even so, those pools were meant to meet the needs of those communities. They don’t have the capacity for the current number of Los Altos children.

Most of my mother’s advice came true

A Side of Clyde

Congress passed a Joint Resolution May 8, 1914, designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. My mother was born before Congress ever recognized how important a mother can be to her children, or how valuable the information on life experience she passes on is.

Beautiful minds abound

Other Voices

One of my cohort’s daughters is graduating high school this spring with a grade point average of 4.4 and SATs of 1440. She is being rushed by universities, as popular girls might by sororities. The academic world is her oyster.

They keep on shlepping along

Shlepperellas celebrate women and families in comedy and song

One could say Linda Merriweather and Karen Schilling-Gould have lived through many of the experiences of today’s women. Both have worked as professionals, and both are wives and mothers.

Film about day workers to air at League meeting

“Los Trabajadores” (”The Workers”), a 48-minute film from Austin, Texas, showing the study and resolution there of a day-worker situation similar to that in Mountain View-Los Altos, will be shown and discussed at a public meeting May 17.

Sponsored by the Los Altos-Mountain View chapter of the League of Women Voters, the meeting is scheduled to begin at noon in the meeting room off the central courtyard of Foothills Congregational Church, 461 Orange Ave., Los Altos.

Calendar

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors, 7:30 p.m., 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos.

Mountain View Parks and Recreation Commission, 7:30 p.m., 201 S. Rengstorff Ave.

Community Briefs

Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres when officials at the Los Altos Senior Center hold an open house 4-7 p.m., May 16, to celebrate facility renovations at the center.

Alice Putman, senior center director, advised making reservations for the event by Monday. For reservations, call 948-7483.

Mothers’ nature concert at Hidden Villa Sunday

Town Crier Editorial Intern

If you’re searching for the perfect way to honor mom on Mother’s Day, Sunday, Hidden Villa Farm and Wilderness Preserve in Los Altos Hills is offering an event that’s sure to be a musical success.

History essay contest winners announced

This year’s winners are as follows (name of student and school):

Third grade: First place: Kelly Moulds, Santa Rita; Second place: Nicole Chen, Oak; Third place: Marielle Beaulieu, Springer

On your marks, get set, run the LAH pathways

The 5K run/walk starts at 9 a.m. and the children’s Fun Run starts at 10:30 a.m. Both events start and finish at Westwind Barn, 27210 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills.

Los Altos Hills council member Emily Cheng will be there to start the 5K event.

‘Partners’ talk about their achievements with youth

Town Crier Correspondent

Volunteers at Partners For New Generations help young adults get a second chance. The volunteer program is designed for adult mentors to assist struggling students back on their feet.

LASD Budget Review Committee proposes budget cut list for 2002-03

The Los Altos School District’s Budget Review Committee met May 2 to recommend budget cuts totaling $4.5 million.

The committee presented the list to the Board of Trustees at its regular meeting May 6, after the Town Crier went to press. The committee also presented a priority list for possible restorations. The Board of Trustees decided on the formal budget cuts at the same meeting.

Noteworthies

Serena Chang, daughter of Wilson Wei-Teh Chang and Kitty Oi-Wah Lee of Los Altos, has been cited for outstanding academic achievement in film studies during the winter term of 2002 at Dartmouth University, Hanover, N.H.

Assemblyman says bill designed to help underfunded districts like Los Altos

Many Los Altos School District supporters place the blame for the district’s current budget crisis squarely at the feet of the state legislature. After all, it is the state from which 75 percent of the district’s budget comes. It is the state that is facing a huge deficit and budget cuts of its own that have created, in large part, the district’s own $4 million deficit.

Joe Simitian, state assemblyman for the 21st district, which includes the Los Altos area, held a public meeting April 27 at the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District boardroom. He discussed the current budget problems with some 50 residents in the audience.

Schools Briefs

Montessori School of Los Altos is celebrating its 30th anniversary with music, refreshments, balloons, face-painting and a program honoring individuals who have contributed to the school over the past 30 years. The celebration is scheduled 2-5 p.m., May 18, at Montessori School of Los Altos, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. Please R.S.V.P. by calling 493-7200 or e-mailing smartkids@sbcglobal.net.

Montclaire School hosts book fair

Geology moves for Bullis 4th-graders

For Lori Loftus, learning how to make a movie, also known as an iMovie on an iMac Apple computer, revolutionized how she teaches earth science.

Her fourth-grade science students at Bullis-Purissima Elementary School in Los Altos Hills recently made their own iMovies about geology.

Grand openings planned for high school theaters

The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District will celebrate the completion of Performing Arts facilities at both high schools with a grand opening gala event at each site.

The Los Altos Eagle theater gala is May 17 and the Mountain View Spartan theater gala is May 18.

Quintero leaving Los Altos High

Prep Softball Roundup

St. Francis coach Ivers closes in on 400th victory

Nine locals to be recognized at all-star football banquet

Monday’s banquet to honor players selected for the 28th Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game will have a distinct local flavor, with nine of the 80 participants from area schools.

Local players slated to play in the July 24 game include: Thomas Roux (Los Altos High); Trevor Hooper, Jordan Nelson and Matt Turnbull (Mountain View); Mike Ribero and Aaron Rouleau (St. Francis); Steven Nichols (Homestead); and Juan Marquez and Robbie Perry (Gunn).

On Deck: the local sports lineup for May 8-14

Baseball

Today

Sports On The Side

The inaugural Los Altos Hills Pathways Run/Walk is set for Saturday at Westwind Barn, 27210 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills. The 5K run will start at 9 a.m., and the mile fun run at 10:30 a.m. Registration fees range from $10-$22. For more information, call 941-7222, ext. 306.

Get your kicks

Los Altos, Mtn. View & St. Francis highs announce winners of winter sports awards

The local high schools recently held their fall sports award ceremonies, honoring the following athletes:

LOS ALTOS HIGH

Spartans pull even with Eagles

Town Crier Correspondent

After being mesmerized by an assortment of tantalizing breaking pitches, Mountain View High’s hitters woke up in time to pound out a 7-5 come-from-behind win over Los Altos last Saturday.

Depth is the difference in Lancers’ gymnastics win over Los Altos

St. Francis High gymnastics coach Lynn Horiye went into last week’s meet at Los Altos unsure if his team had enough depth to beat the undefeated Eagles.

As it turned out, the Lancers’ depth carried them to a 175.90-173.35 win April 30 in a SCVAL South Division meet.

Los Altos Hills diver Bowling earns second place at Jr. Olympic West Nationals

Los Altos Hills resident Sara Bowling placed second in the 1-meter diving competition at last month’s Junior Olympic West Nationals.

The Castilleja School senior took 13th in the 3-meter event.

Eagles, Lancers reach semis of CCS team tennis playoffs

Spring Sports Summary

Swimming & Diving

MVHS relay team sets school record

Around The Track

De Anza Division finals

New York, New York and Murphy Brown

Jean on the Job

New York is a wonderful place. Nine of us from our company presented two Bully Broad Boot Camps there last week, at the request of Candice Bergen, and to be shown on Oxygen Cable in July.

Here’s the scoop: New owners at Baskin-Robbins

Town Crier Correspondent

David and Trina Morrow take over from longtime favorite Norman Chu

Stock market not so hot

Stock Report

It takes more than one statistic to make a recovery, so maybe things aren’t as great as we may think.

Transactions

Los Altos

104 Second Street - Eprime Inc. to Hess Trust for $839,000.00

Main Street Bar & Grill files Chapter 13 bankruptcy

Loren Masters, owner of the Main Street Bar & Grill, filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy in U.S. District Court April 15 as a result of financial problems during the past year.

The restaurant was known as the Los Altos Bar & Grill for years, but the Masters changed the name this year to Main Street Bar & Grill.

Fight director Fidler takes on PYT play

A chair flew through the air. A thug hit the ground with a thud.

Peninsula Youth Theatre’s Mountain View studio was the scene of a barroom brawl.

Growers expect to see red

Town Crier Staff Report

onsumers can expect to see more red than ever before this strawberry season. The California Strawberry industry is on the verge of a record-breaking year, according to a recent report released by the California Strawberry Commission.

Man can’t live on cheap Chardonnay alone

The past years I have written several articles on inexpensive wines and the good values that can be found with a modicum of research. This may have happened because I was too cheap to spring for the good stuff or I believed that was what everyone really wanted to drink. Whatever the reason, it is time to review expensive California chardonnays in the $30-$50 range.

Fifteen years ago, when we were fledging partners in Sarah’s Vineyard, we procured a new, expensive, embossed bottle, adorned it with a fancy gold label, wrapped it in fleur-de-lis tissue and raised the price to $35. It was a handsome package. This price was matched in those days only by Woltner, and it almost put us in a rather unique, lofty position. We might have gotten away with it except the first year of this new package we produced the worst wine we ever made!

Food Bites

Scott’s Seafood moved from its Palo Alto location on Bayshore Road across town to the former Stickney’s Restaurant site at the Town and Country Village on the corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero next to Stanford University last month. T

Scott’s has operated in Palo Alto for the past 20 years. The restuarant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

P.F. Chang’s brings bistro to Palo Alto mall

Town Crier Correspondent

If you’ve ever had to wait more than an hour for a table at Sunnyvale’s P.F. Chang’s restaurant, take heart. Last week the P.F. Chang’s chain of restaurants opened a new China Bistro in the Stanford Shopping Center.

Eating well with Carole in your kitchen

Carole Orlando offers local residents personal chef service

You’d like to eat more healthfully and in the privacy of your home, but your family’s hectic schedule often interferes. Carole Orlando believes she can provide the solution.

Fuel up on carbs, liquids before a long-distance run

Nutrition

Q: What should I eat to fuel up for long-distance runs?

Sharpen your knife knowledge

If you want to stay on the cutting edge in the kitchen, it may be a good idea to hone your knowledge of knives.

Knife safety tips

Wedding

Janine Chu and John Sun were married April 27 at Valley Presbyterian Church, Portola Valley. A reception was held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose.

The bride is the daughter of Dorothy and Kai-ching Chu of Los Altos. She graduated from Mountain View High School and has degrees from Cornell University and University of California, Los Angeles. She is an attorney in Los Angeles.

Obituaries

Irene Eva Lewis, a longtime Los Altos resident, died April 8. A native of Kansas, she was 93.

Mrs. Lewis graduated from Business College in Wichita, Kan. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Los Altos, the Peninsula Women’s Auxiliary and the California Pharmaceutical Association. She was an active volunteer for the Santa Clara County Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Melodramatic plot hampers Palo Alto Players’ ‘Aspects’

Theater review

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Aspects of Love” opened as a Palo Alto Players production filling Lucie Stern Theater with fine singing and an improbable plot.

Hwang to solo with Nova Vista

Los Altos High School student Albert Hwang will perform the Elgar Cello Concerto Saturday at Nova Vista Symphony’s concert at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills.

The program also includes “American Festival Overture” by William Schuman, Symphony No. 1 by fellow American Samuel Barber and Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes.”

Brazilian pianist Neto to play two free concerts for CSMA

The Community School of Music and Arts continues its 2001-02 free Family Concert Series Sunday with Jovino Santos Neto, a Brazilian pianist and composer.

Neto’s compositions move freely from Brazilian rhythms to jazz to dense orchestral textures.