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Archives » 2002 » Volume 55 , Issue 40, Published on Wednesday, October 2, 2002NewsFall fest gets cooking
Fall Festival features Yan and his chopping block Any chicken that lands on Martin Yan’s kitchen table is chopped, drawn and quartered before you can say “Los Altos Fall Festival.” The cleaver-wielding TV personality-chef can prepare a chicken to roast in just under 18 seconds. Local thieves target unlocked bicyclesProtect yourself Police report as many as one bike theft a day at Los Altos High School Scaled-down town hall preferred, survey saysLos Altos Hills Most Los Altos Hills residents would prefer a scaled-down and less costly town hall, according to a citywide survey conducted by the grass-roots group LAH Watchdog. Town officials’ homes vandalized in ‘politically motivated’ attacksThree Los Altos Hills officials who have been criticized for their stance on off-road pathways were the victims of vandalism this past weekend. Councilwoman Toni Casey and planning commissioners Charles Wong and Bill Kerns all had hard objects thrown through the front windows of their homes. News BriefsLos Altos Police arrested two teens suspected of committing a series of school burglaries in several peninsula cities, including Los Altos. Michael Sherwood and Jorge Martinez, both 19, were traveling in a white Camaro when police pulled them over at the intersection of Orange and University avenues in Los Altos. Police ReportSept. 23, 8:41 p.m., San Antonio Road and Sherwood Lane: Police arrested a driver for driving under the influence of alcohol. Identity theft Council considers scrapping hotel plansLos Altos Retail-housing project would provide more downtown parking Trail lovers on warpathResidents say revised LAH pathways map violates state law A revised town pathways map is heading to the Los Altos Hills City Council for approval, while trails supporters are up in arms over a document they see as massively flawed and politically motivated. OpinionFor widows only: Tell him how you feelA View from the Hills It’s deadline time again, time to put words on paper and I’m thinking of you, my husband, and how we used to discuss possible subjects, when I wasn’t sure of my choice. Letters to the EditorWhen the World Trade Center was first proposed, the project was widely denounced as “a supreme example of self-glorifying monumentalism on the part of unaccountable, autonomous public-authorities.” But it was built — and it went on to become a defining symbol of pride and identity for every New Yorker. My guess is that we’ll have much the same experience here in Los Altos Hills with the new town hall. The town hall debate has become so alarmingly rancorous and personal that the underlying issues and trade-offs for the town are hard to pick out in all the cross-fire. CommunityReturn of the pet rock?Pet lovers may be charmed by Los Altos artist’s ‘Pebble Pets’ There’s nothing quite like the love we feel for our family pets. Loyal creatures that they are, pets endure our foibles, adapt to our busy schedules, obey our commands, entertain us with pet tricks and comfort us when we’re blue. It’s only natural that we want some lasting keepsake to remind us of their special place in our hearts, right? Dinner and concert benefit Poor Clare nunsJulia Randazzo and Take Note and Djacks will headline a concert and dinner benefit for the Poor Clare nuns scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Oct. 19, at St. Joseph School, 1120 Miramonte Ave. in Mountain View. There will also be a donation-drawing for an acoustic guitar and an afghan made by the Poor Clare Sisters. Proceeds from the evening will assist in the rebuilding of the Poor Clare Monastery in Los Altos Hills. The monastery, built in 1920, was originally the home of the Gibson family. Today, it badly needs repair and retrofit construction. Community BriefsFoothill College Observatory reopened last Saturday. It is open to the public 9-11 p.m., every clear Friday night; and 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Saturday, for safe viewing of the sun. Parking lot 4 provides easy access to the observatory. Visitors must purchase a parking permit for $2 (in quarters). For more information, listen to the observatory’s recorded message at 949-7334 or logon to www.foothill.edu/ast/pas.htm. Tending roses gives LAH mayor time to reflectRobert Fenwick talks about city controversies and life in the hills Los Altos Hills Mayor Robert Fenwick didn’t plan for a career in politics - the desire to have underground wires in town catapulted the retired businessman into a city council seat two years ago. LAH teens celebrate life of childhood friend at ‘Light the Night’ walkAmy and Amber Richard, Los Altos Hills sisters and Gunn High School honor students, will participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual “Light The Night Walk” Saturday in Palo Alto. They will be in memory of their childhood friend, Laetitia Khan, who lost her battle with leukemia at 14. “We were unable to say goodbye to her,” said Amber, 15. “This event gives us closure and celebrates her life,” added Amy, 17. Local residents are finalists for philanthropy awardPeninsula Community Foundation last month announced the five finalists for the second Thomas W. Ford Award. Created in 1999 to honor the late philanthropist and community builder Tom Ford, and to inspire future Bay Area philanthropists to continue their commitment to the region, this prestigious triennial award carries a $50,000 cash grant to the local charitable organizations of the winner’s choice and grants of $10,000 each to the non-profit designees of the finalists. Los Altos resident has spent 25 years buying Peninsula land to preserve as open spaceTown Crier Editorial Intern Craig Britton is chief negotiator for Peninsula’s open space district Alice Waters, Nell Newman highlight Duveneck dinnerHidden Villa in Los Altos Hills welcomed more than 500 people last Saturday evening to the seventh annual Josephine and Frank Duveneck Humanitarian Awards dinner. After touring the flower and vegetable gardens, sampling organic wines and viewing the art-filled Duveneck main house, the guests promenaded past cows, sheep and horses to dine in a huge white tent in the meadow. “Some of our staff were here first thing this morning to fill in the holes the gophers dug last night,” Judith Steiner, Hidden Villa’s executive director told, dinner guests, who dined on organically grown produce and wore name tags handcrafted from paper embedded with wildflower seeds, which could later be planted in the garden. SchoolsOak, Mountain View High teachers named teachers of the yearMountain View High School English teacher Steve Kahl and Oak School kindergarten teacher Amanda Terry were honored Sept. 23 as teachers of the year in their districts, with a ceremony at Santa Clara University’s Mayer Theatre. Kahl was recognized by the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District and Terry by the Los Altos School District. Share the fun of science with home experimentHere is a fun and interactive home science experiment guaranteed to get a reaction from your children. The following steps teach children about chemical reactions while experimenting with how far they can pop their stopper. New MVHS vice prinicpalKeith Moody, the new assistant principal at Mountain View High School, brings with him not only 15 years of experience working in education, but the mystique of wearing a coveted Super Bowl ring. Moody, who played in the National Football League for five years with the Buffalo Bills and one year with the 1980 Super Bowl winning Oakland Raiders, sees his time as a professional football player as his catalyst into education. A lesson in freedom of speechStudents are raising a ruckus this week at The Girls’ Middle School in Mountain View. In an exercise meant to raise awareness of the threat of censorship, a school librarian removed all fantasy books from the library shelves, citing complaints about the book’s content. Students in grades 6-8 were encouraged to exercise their right to dissent - with plenty of encouragement from parents and teachers. Schools BriefsThe Mountain View High School Spartan Marching Band and color guard has scheduled a preview performance of its field show, “Bella Mangione,” featuring the music of Chuck Mangione, 4 p.m., Saturday, at the MVHS outdoor stadium, 3535 Truman Ave. Admission is free and the community is invited, as a thank-you to the community for its support. The event marks the beginning of the new season, with the band in full uniform for the first time. The performance caps an all-day March-a-thon fund-raiser for the band. Successful phone-a-thon for MV-LAHS FoundationThe Mountain View-Los Altos High School Foundation has come closer to its goal of raising $220,000 for the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District after its annual phone-a-thon Sept. 24-25, foundation president Julia Rosenberg said. About 100 parent volunteers, administrators and even the principals of Los Altos and Mountain View high schools manned the phones and solicited donations at the San Antonio Road offices of Coldwell Banker and Alain Pinel. MV-LA High School District plans new AV campusThe campus at Alta Vista High School is getting a new lease on life. The Mountain View City Council unanimously approved a 40-year land lease at $1 per year to the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, at its meeting Sept. 24. SportsLPGA star Inkster to appear at Challenge for Charity golf tourney in Los AltosJuli Inkster will be among the featured guests at the Ladies Challenge for Charity golf tournament Monday at Los Altos Golf & Country Club. Inkster, a Los Altos resident, is a two-time U.S. Women’s Open Champion and a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. Sports On The SideLocal high school sports soon will be broadcast on Los Altos public access television. The Los Altos City Council on Sept. 24 agreed to appropriate $6,300 to the cable TV budget to purchase equipment for airing games on Los Altos Government Access (channel 18). Teams from Los Altos, Mountain View and St. Francis highs will be featured. Play ball Pinewood tennis team is (almost) in a league of its ownReturning several key players from a girls tennis team that finished second in both Northern California and the Central Coast Section, Pinewood School would appear to be in good position to win its league and earn an automatic playoff berth. Well, that’s half right. Eagles get by Spartans in 4Prep Volleyball Roundup There was only one winner, yet both Los Altos and Mountain View highs came away from last Thursday’s girls volleyball match feeling pretty good about themselves. Lancers put a scare into nation’s top-ranked football teamTown Crier Correspondent So close and yet so far. The St. Francis High football team came within a dropped touchdown pass, a bad punt and an interception of pulling off one of the greatest upsets in high school sports history - football or otherwise. LA field hockey team doesn’t lack talent - or competitionCoach Gerri Baldwin says this year’s Los Altos High field hockey team “is as good, if not better” than the 1996 squad that captured the Central Coast Section championship. However, this doesn’t mean the current Eagles can match that team’s success. Spartans pound Paly, improve to 3-0Town Crier Staff Report The Mountain View High football team last Friday defeated an upper-division opponent for the second-straight week, routing Palo Alto 32-11. BusinessMake some time for funJean on the Job Too busy to stop and chat with an old friend? Too stressed to take the class you really need? Too tired to prioritize? Too rushed to make a list? Preferred stocks offer money making for the conservative investorARA Content What’s a conservative, yield-craving investor to do? Six-month Treasurys are yielding less than 2 percent while two-year CDs are only offering up about 4 percent. Another bone-jarring week for the stock marketInvestors started another bone-jarring week with a 200-point drop in the Dow. It’s a continuation of the 300-point drop last Friday, with the Dow below 7,500 early Monday morning. With the third-quarter books closed, investors remain worried about the same issues: sluggish economic growth, the possibility of war with Iraq, and company profits that are not showing any promise. Book ReviewLocal author publishes book for young adults about life in the 1920s Rewa Hodges, a Los Altos author, takes readers to the Black Hills in South Dakota, where she received an education few could ever envision. “Molly May on the T/C Ranch” is an autobiographical account by a woman in her 80s, recalling her childhood at the age of 6. Avoid unpleasant surprises with a financial checkupIt seems every time you turn around, you’re bombarded with information on staying healthy: what to eat, how much to exercise, what vitamins to take and how much water to drink. Most people try their best to incorporate at least some of this advice into their daily routine because they know that taking preventive measures now means less chance of serious health problems down the road. The same is true with financial health. Spending some time now going over your money situation can go a long way toward avoiding problems or surprises later. As with any fitness program, taking the first step can be the hardest part of the process. Search for healthier life steers consumers to organic productsHave you ever eaten organic food? If not, you will soon be in the minority. Close to four in 10 consumers buy some type of organic food when they shop, according to a 2001 consumer survey by Rodale Press. Sales of organic products are climbing so fast that they are expected to reach $20 billion in the next three years. But just who are these four in 10 consumers? Are they the hardcore, zealous health-food-eating types and strict vegetarians? While these groups do help make up part of this organic-purchasing group, the bulk of the growth in this category is coming from mainstream Americans simply looking for better, healthier food choices for themselves and their families. Transactions620 Almond Avenue - Chang Trust to B. & G. Greenen for $1,175,000.00 495 Arboleda Drive - G. Papadopoulos to Z. & L. Rodriguez for $1,150,000.00 Rutt of Los Altos takes projects from concept to completionWhen people move into a new home everything isn’t always just the way they want it to be. The space may be right, but the materials and finishes may not meet their taste. When interior designer Gina Viscusi Elson and Christopher Elson purchased the Rutt Collection on First Street in downtown Los Altos, they undertook a four-month renovation of each room before hosting a grand opening last Wednesday evening. Special SectionWestern Opera Theater to perform “La Bohème” at StanfordStanford Lively Arts presents Western Opera Theater’s production of “La Bohème,” considered among opera’s most romantic stories, at 8 p.m., Saturday, in Stanford University’s Memorial Auditorium. WOT has taken Giacomo Puccini’s classic and placed it in the revolutionary spirit of 1960s Paris. Early morning students seeking wisdomLos Altos High students start day with a dose of religious teachings “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7) Classics coming to town for Los Altos Fall FestivalSeveral local residents are expected to show off their vintage cars at this weekend’s Los Altos Fall Festival. The Classic Car Show will be part of the 11th annual festival, scheduled 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, in the South Plaza parking lot between First and Third streets in downtown Los Altos. The ‘automatic stickshift’ is catching on with American driversTips From The Auto Brokers & Stefanie Kelly Weddings & EngagementsKathleen Oldberg and Casey Maze were married in August in Maui, Hawaii. The bride is the daughter of Vicki and Terry Oldberg of Los Altos Hills. She graduated from Los Altos High School and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree and credential in school psychology from Long Beach State University. She is employed by the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa School District as a school psychologist. Spiritual Life BriefsCreekside Crossings at Los Altos United Methodist Church will discuss elements of peace on Sunday evenings in September and October. Titled “PeaceMaking,” the series will explore forgiveness, hope, vision, prayer and other actions persons can take to live a life of peace. The pastors of the church will lead the discussions, which are designed to reflect on the challenges of our day. PA Philharmonic opening seasonThe Palo Alto Philharmonic opens its 15th season at 8 p.m., Saturday, at Spangenberg Theatre. The concert will feature pianist Gene Hwang, first prize winner in the United States Open Solo Competition. This ‘Art’ doesn’t appeal to everyoneTheater review “Art,” a 90 minute one-act comedy-drama by Yasmina Reza recently mounted by the Palo Alto Players, is a strange sort of bird, yet one that has won all kinds of awards, including a Tony on Broadway as 1998’s best play. Somehow, I wonder why. |
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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