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Archives » 2002 » Volume 55 , Issue 34, Published on Wednesday, August 21, 2002NewsCampuses shuffled
Blach, Egan and Covington open for students With the start of the new school year comes new teachers, new classmates and, for some students and staff in the Los Altos School District, a new school. Council appeals judge’s decision to ban portion of day worker lawLos Altos The Los Altos City Council announced last week that it will appeal a court order that temporarily bans the city from enforcing part of a city law prohibiting day laborers from soliciting work from along El Camino Real. Hit-and-run driver crashes parked Bronco into treesLos Altos police are looking for the hit-and-run driver who struck a parked Bronco with such force Aug.10 that it caused the vehicle to lunge forward about 30 feet into two trees in front of the owner’s West Portola Avenue property. Beth Neylan said her family was asleep when a black truck allegedly swerved into her son’s Bronco parked in the street in front of their home at around 3 a.m.. News BriefsA group of Los Altos Hills residents, Los Altos Hills Open Space, plans to have an initiative petition out to the public by the end of next month. It would require city officials to seek residents’ approval before selling public lands, a spokeswoman said. Council inquiry about the potential sale of two public lands, Westwind Barn and Byrne Preserve, sparked concern earlier this year. LAH landmark illegally demolishedThe new owners of the Winbigler estate allegedly illegally razed the historic Los Altos Hills landmark from the hill where it has perched for nearly 80 years overlooking Fremont Road last week. Los Altos Hills city officials put a stop work order on all construction on the property. Owners, Gordon Campbell and Maria Ligeti, were in the midst of a massive construction project on the property that was to include a five-car underground garage; a caretaker’s residence; a studio-workshop with decking; a swimming pool and a tennis court. Police ReportAug. 12, 11:15 a.m., University Avenue: A caller told police there was a vehicle parked on street with for sale signs on it. Traffic hazard Masked gunman flees empty handed before police arrive at Los Altos homeTown Crier Editorial Intern A masked gunman raided a Los Altos couple’s home as they watched television Aug. 12. The man pointed a semiautomatic handgun at the elderly couple, whose identity remains undisclosed, and demanded money from a safe in the next room, police said. Six candidates file for two seats on the El Camino Hospital BoardSix candidates have filed for the two, four-year seats open on the El Camino Hospital District Board of Directors. Incumbents, Mark J. O’Connor of Sunnyvale and David W. Reeder of Los Altos, said the hospital is in the middle of the earthquake retrofit, and there is much to finish. OpinionQuestions on latest theater planAnother plan for a downtown theater complex is being floated through Los Altos government channels. But like the last theater proposal, this one poses just as many questions. The new concept targets Parking Lot C, located where Bandera restaurant is, facing San Antonio Road. What’s being talked about now is a six-to-seven screen theater complex that could show first-run movies and art films. Discussions center on an 18,000-square-foot complex with about 950 seats. With a theater this size, the city could lose about 70 parking spaces. Cost of the theater, not including land or parking improvements, would be about $4.5 million. City officials are working on requests for proposals to lure potential developers. Letters to the EditorSome 35 neighbors recently spent a delightful Saturday morning at our home on Hamilton Avenue. Some on the street have been here 50 years - original neighbors who have raised their children together, playing ball in the middle of the street, going dancing and out to dinner - and have seen many changes over the years. They now get a sense of déjà vu seeing the many wonderful people moving around them with their little ones. We love our neighborhood! L. and L. GuidiLos Altos Surviving the stormReflections Home again - what a joy! The nightmare of enforced dependency is beginning to fade, but I have to admit that I’m still pretty dependent. There’s my wonderful husband and my skillful and lovable Ana who came with me from my Menlo Park experience. Four extra hands help a lot to conquer challenges: raising my weaker leg over the two front steps and moving my body out of my “electric chair.” We are on our way to the light at the end of the tunnel (not an out-of-body experience). CommunityLos Altos celebrates 50th birthday with BBQLos Altos can trace its roots back to Spanish land grants, but as an incorporated charter city its history goes back only to Dec. 1, 1952. The road to cityhood wasn’t smooth, longtime residents remember, calling the battle to incorporate “war.” If the city hadn’t become incorporated, Los Altos could have been annexed to Mountain View and Palo Alto today. Mtn. View’s KMVT wins top national cable awardMountain View’s community TV station KMVT-15 recently took home more national honors for its programming than any other cable station in Northern California, including top honor for overall excellence in the nation. This is the third time in six years that the station has earned this award. “Winning this national award for a third time is a tremendous recognition,” said KMVT President Rita Gardiner after the Alliance for Community Media announced the winners at the annual Hometown Video Festival in Texas earlier this month. Los Altos High alumni return home to perform in chamber music benefitTown Crier Editorial Intern Two former Los Altos High School musicians will return to campus Saturday, to perform in the first community concert to be held at the school’s newly constructed Eagle Theater. The classical music concert will benefit the performing arts department. Los Altos residents to hold solemn gathering downtown to commemorate 9/11 anniversaryThe events of Sept. 11, 2001, affected most Americans profoundly and deeply. Now, one year later, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills families are encouraged to commemorate the tragedy with a solemn, one-hour gathering on the anniversary of that day. “Remembering 9/11″ will be a communitywide gathering 6:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 11, on the Hillview soccer field. More than 1,000 residents are expected to attend the event. Seating will begin at 6 p.m. Community BriefsProfessional photographer David Linnig is scheduled to hold a workshop for young photographers 9-13, 1-4 p.m., Sept. 14 and 15, at Hidden Villa Farm, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. Linnig will offer instruction on subject matter, composition and exposure control, in addition to individual critiques, with time for taking photos. Cost is $45. Reservations are required. For more information, call 949-8653. ‘Celebrating Community’ exhibit to open at history musuem during city’s 50th birthday celebrationsThe Los Altos History Museum will open its newest exhibit, “Los Altos: Celebrating 50 Years of Community,” Thursday as part of the citywide events scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the city’s 50th anniversary of the incorporation of the Los Altos. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 5, 2003. The exhibit features significant events in the community from the 1950s to present, beginning with the controversy surrounding incorporation itself. SchoolsLos Altos School District pleased with 2001-02 STAR test resultsThe Los Altos School District is seeing stars. The district presented its 2002 Standardized Testing and Recording (STAR) examination results to its board of trustees at a special meeting, Aug. 12. The STAR test scores are based on national norms using the 50th percentile as the average. The STAR test is a standardized state test used to evaluate California schools. Students are tested in reading, math, language and spelling, with 28 possible subtests. Looking ahead with a new superintendent
Jim Negri, new head of MV -Whisman district excited about school year For Jim Negri, Aug. 26 is not only the start of the new school year, but also the start of his new job as superintendent of the newly merged Mountain View-Whisman School District. Banking on backpacksCostume Bank donates backpacks for needy students Volunteers from the Los Altos Costume Bank assembled and donated 130 backpacks loaded with school supplies to children from needy families. Operation School Bell was made possible with funds available after the Costume Bank funded their regular programs. SportsPGA’s Kuchar to appear at El Camino InvitationalThe U.S. Open may have had Tiger Woods, but the upcoming El Camino Heritage Invitational Golf Tournament will have a star of its own. Professional golfer Matt Kuchar - considered a PGA “young gun” and winner of the 2002 Honda Classic - will join golfers at Monday’s tournament, at the Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club. Sports On The SideJoseph Lok of Los Altos was eliminated from the USTA Nationals in a third-round feed-in match Aug. 7 in Kalamazoo, Mich. Glendale’s Sergy Vagramian defeated Lok 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the boys 16 division. That same day in San Diego, St. Francis High’s Stephanie Schnitter lost in the fourth round of the girls 16 division of the USTA Nationals. Brittany Larson (Orchard Park, N.Y.) beat Schnitter 7-5, 7-6 (7-4). A day later at the USTA Super National Hard Court Championships in San Jose, Pinewood School’s Lejla Hodzic bowed out in the girls 18 quarterfinals. No. 2 seed Kristen Schlukebir dispatched Hodzic 6-3, 6-2. Looking for a keeper Red Barn Festival set for Saturday at Stanford Equestrian CenterThe 13th Annual Red Barn Festival, called “A Day on the Farm,” is scheduled for Saturday at the Stanford Equestrian Center. The day program, set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include demonstrations of different horse breeds and riding activities, exhibits, a petting zoo, pony rides and a silent auction. Local travel baseball team places fifth nationally
The latest trend in youth sports seems to be travel teams, which play their respective sport year-round. And the Los Altos-Mountain View area is home to one of the best 10-and-under travel baseball teams in the country. MV pitcher caps stellar season with win in Palamino World SeriesIn most sports, an expansion team’s first season is about as awkward as a sumo wrestler on rollerblades. There are plenty of flubs and falls. Yet the Santa Clara Rangers somehow avoided this clumsy period, making it to the Palamino World Series in their inaugural season. Pair of St. Francis High golfers finish among top 30 at tourneyMichael Jensen of Los Altos tied for 26th in the boys division of last week’s San Jose Junior Classic. Jensen posted a three-round score of 223 at the American Junior Golf Association event, which concluded last Thursday at Almaden Country Club (par 72). Two other players finished with the same score as Jensen, who attends St. Francis High. PA Lightning track team gets jolt from LA membersThey didn’t make it to the National Junior Olympics - few first-year runners do - but four Los Altos residents certainly impressed their coach during the club track and field season. Willie Young, coach of the Palo Alto Lightning, had nothing but praise for new team members Alec Nickolls, Amanda Fox, Adrian Bjorn Berg and Jasmine Sofia Berg. Team effort propels Bobby Sox team to national tourneyPerhaps the best thing about Bobby Sox softball, according to Cathy DiLeonardo, is that if you’re on the team, you’ll get on the field. “Everybody plays,” said DiLeonardo, manager of the Mountain View Bobby Sox 4A Division All-Stars. “It’s fair.” BusinessCompanies find savings by giving monitors a restA growing number of companies are allowing sleeping on the job and are saving money in the process. But it’s not employees who are getting sleepy; it’s computer monitors. Dot-com revolution is still providing valuable-and vital-business methodsGuest Column North American Precis Syndicate Irish eyes smiling on Los Altos
St. Stephen’s Green-type pub to replace former Bar & Grill Downtown Los Altos is scheduled to get a splash of green this Labor Day weekend when the Los Altos Bar and Grill reopens as an Irish pub. Market needs more answers before it moves upwardStock Report The good news says the stock market bottom has been reached. The bad news says the market isn’t going anywhere. El Camino Hospital financials for 2001-2002 display positive resultsWhile most department heads had nothing to report, and only two directors were present for the Aug. 14 meeting of the El Camino Hospital District, the highlight of the evening was Chief Financial Officer Marla Gularte period 13 financials. “This report is significant because it shows positive results from the core operation,” Gularte said. “These figures will serve us well as we rebuild the hospital.” Emmett ‘Skip’ Cashin III, high on Los Altos real estate futureRealtor Profile Licensed to sell real estate at age 18, and a brokerage license at 21, Emmett “Skip” Cashin III has a 30-year record of achievement in Peninsula real estate. Find your hardy self during these tough times by staying activeJean on the Job The economy is frightening and it’s hurting us all. Nothing seems certain. Frail people fall back under conditions like this. Your HealthBotox parties are no place for cosmetic treatmentEver since the Food and Drug Administration approved a form of Botox (botulinum toxin) this past spring, “Botox parties” have become the craze among men and women attempting to regain smoother skin through injections of the drug. Medical officials estimated that more than 2 million people this year will go under the needle to treat their facial muscles with Botox. Health Library eBooks offer an array of answers for asthma suffers“You may be shocked to know that asthma is on the increase. There are now 14.6 million Americans who suffer from asthma - up from 10.4 million in 1990. Asthma is the number one diagnosis of people admitted to hospitals. Almost 5 million American children have asthma and the numbers keep growing. For every parent who has watched a child struggle to catch his/her breath, or for every adult who has worried about whether they have an inhaler with them, these statistics may not seem surprising. For the rest of us who have a vague understanding of asthma, it may be surprising to learn that asthma is one of the biggest health risks we might encounter. Senior swimmer makes a splashTown Crier Editorial Intern Marjorie Sharpe, 86, talks about the benefits of keeping active during the golden years Winning the ‘September Battle’ over bedtimeKeys To Parenting Q: As the beginning of school approaches, I have a huge fear of what I call the “September Battle.” Right now, I don’t care much about the children’s need for sleep in order for them to do well in school, because I’m so dreading the battle of getting them up on school days. Do you have any thoughts on how to make the transition from late summer bedtime to earlier school bedtime so that my children will be able to get up at 6:30 instead of 8 or 9? Health BriefsFree screenings will be available this month to local residents who used the diet drugs Fenfluramine, Redux and Pondimin, commonly known as Fen-Phen. Studies show that the FDA-approved drugs caused heart valve damage among many users. Doctors’ similar experiences provide patients additional support at women’s clinicTown Crier Editorial Intern For 19 years, Women Physicians Ob-Gyn Medical Group has been providing services specializing in women’s health. |
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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