By Linden Tree owners earn education award

Linda and Dennis Ronberg, owners of Linden Tree Children’s Records and Books in downtown Los Altos, were presented the Sally Siegal Friend of Education Award May 30 at Palo Alto’s Cultural Center for their work with local teachers.

The award is given each year to a person or couple who lives in the community and has provided strong support for public education.

“The Palo Alto Educators Association has given Dennis and Linda this award to show our appreciation and gratefulness for their tireless effort, on behalf of the students, teachers and schools in the Palo Alto Unified School District and our community,” music teacher Karen Johnsen said.

As bookstore owners, the Ronbergs have reached out to educators in many ways, Johnsen said. They have provided teachers’ workshops, a resource area in their store and discounts for classroom materials. They provide free concerts for children during the summer and sponsor book fairs and concerts to raise funds for school libraries.

Linden Tree is located at 170 State St., Los Altos.

Local gas prices stabilize for summer

An abundant stockpile of gas at refineries, along with falling crude oil prices, is helping push gas prices to the lowest summertime level in three years, according to reports from AAA of Northern California.

“Instead of perennial increases during summer, we’re seeing prices fall or stabilize right now,” AAA spokesman Arie Erlingsson said.

According to the AAA’s monthly gas survey, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded, self-serve gas at local stations has stabilized at $1.65, one cent higher than it was in May.

This average is 30 to 40 cents below June 2001 levels, according to the report.

The largest one-month increase was seen in South Lake Tahoe, where gas is pumping for $1.74, an increase of 14 cents.

Los Altos resident named to Congressional commission

Los Altos resident James Johnston was selected this month to serve the state of California on the new Congressional Business Commission.

The commission is an elite group of leading business people and political strategists who will advise the Republican leadership on how to protect the Republican majority in the House in the fall elections.