By Los Altos may not boast a big orange bridge or an arena for sharks, but it does hold the title of something almost as rare, though less tangible.

The small, unassuming town was recently dubbed the “Mayberry” of the ultra-tech Bay Area in the San Jose Mercury News.

For most locals, the announcement was probably no surprise. Residents have worked hard to preserve that idealistic hometown character depicted in the 1950s television show as the era’s Shangri-La.

Low-rise buildings, small family shops and friendly faces have maintained the city’s charm from orchards to the present day.

Even a new national chain pharmacy slated for Second Street is changing its standard building design to conform to Los Altos’ “village” character.

Los Altos is a place where people celebrate the best of Americana daily. It’s a place where they fly American flags unabashedly, greet one another and window-shop with their dogs. It is one of the few places in the area where three or four generations of people can say they have walked in the town’s annual pet parade, which began more than 50 years ago.

In a recent Town Crier survey, residents said they took most pride in the city’s friendly downtown, sense of neighborhood, small town parades and courteous people - though one resident said she believed “Mayberry” was a good name for the city due to its lack of DSL services, which has put the city behind other nearby high-tech areas.

Next week, residents will gather for another “Glorious 4th” of July picnic in Shoup Park. Ye Olde Towne Band and a Marine Corps drill team will be leading the festivities as locals munch on picnic lunches.

We’re proud of the fact that this event is becoming a tradition thanks to the efforts of several key community groups, including the Los Altos Community Foundation, the American Legion Post 558, Bank of Los Altos, the Veterans Memorial Association of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, and the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. Even the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, while thinking globally, continues to participate in the event because it wants to be a good neighbor - the foundation’s headquarters are located in Los Altos.

On this July 4, the Town Crier salutes Los Altos and its residents who seem to revel in Americana. Whether you call it Mayberry or the Village, we are thankful to call Los Altos home.