Season’s first rain leaves thousands in the dark in LA

Thursday’s heavy rain and wind gusts damaged 64 trees in Los Altos and cut power to 3,406 Los Altos and Los Altos Hills homes.

Los Altos Public Works Superintendent Brian McCarthy said the city received 11 calls related to downed trees; 53 for broken limbs; and 22 for flooding between midnight and noon Friday. A 17-member crew worked through the night clearing limbs and flushing out flooded areas.

Los Altos Hills Council approves Kerns subdivision

Los Altos Hills City Council bulldozed through approval of Planning Commissioner Bill Kerns’ property subdivision last Thursday in a meeting that at one point resembled closing arguments from Real Court TV. The decision came just two days after Kerns lost a council seat in the city election, which many residents said was due in part to the candidate’s housing development interests.

Despite impassioned speeches by residents’ attorneys to block the lame- duck proceedings until a newly elected council convenes in December, council voted 4-0 in favor of approving the mitigated negative declaration and subdivision of Kerns’ lot. Councilman Mike O’Malley abstained.

Schools spell win with ‘H’ Los Altos School District’s parcel tax increase passes with 70.3 percent voter approval

Victory spelled relief for the supporters of the Los Altos School District. Measure H, a $333 parcel tax increase, passed by the needed two-thirds majority vote in the Nov. 5 general election. The district failed to pass the same increase in a special election last April.

According to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, the measure passed with 70.3 percent or 10,213 yes votes and 29.7 percent or 4,322 no votes counted.

LAH Council overcomes protests, bomb threat to approve pathways map

In the face of resident protests, torrential rains and a bomb threat, the Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously voted Thursday to adopt a revised pathways plan that, according to one county official, “scaled back the scope of the ultimate trail network.”

The 2002 Master Path Plan, last revised more than 20 years ago, eliminates some off-road pathways and potential pathways, while securing other roadside paths added in 1996, said Patty Ciesla, Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation commissioner.

Police arrest Foothill College student on murder charges

Police Friday caught up with the fugitive wanted for shooting a Mountain View police officer last week and suspected of killing a Burlingame bank manager during a string of violent Peninsula robberies.

Seti Scanlan, 24, who eluded police during a high-speed chase that ended in East Palo Alto Nov. 1, remained on the run for a week. Oregon police arrested him in Beaverton on a warrant for two counts of armed robbery and four counts of attempted murder after Scanlan surrendered, said Mountain View police spokesman Jim Bennett.

LA student beats classmate with hockey stick during PE

A high school hockey game ended in a brawl Nov. 6, sending one student to the hospital and another to jail.

Los Altos Police Sgt. John Hughmanick said a 14-year-old Los Altos High School student allegedly attacked another student with a field hockey stick over a disputed play in a hockey game held during a morning physical education class on campus.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

to operate schools

As one of the parents on the 1998-99 Facilities Planning Committee, I want to clear up some confusion regarding the Los Altos School District’s decisions over the last four years. At the start of 1998, a group of over 40 parents, teachers, administrators, members of the school board and city council, and other community leaders came together to assess the condition of the district’s eight campuses and to recommend what action was required.

Editorial Pathways map decision not OK

Why? The town has not revised its map for 21 years. There apparently isn’t any rush to approve a new one. The sentiments of the current council will obviously change in two weeks when new councilmen Breene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky take the controls. Surely, the gracious congratulations by opponents and the talk of “the will of the voters” ring hollow at the core.

Kerr and Warshawsky share the belief, along with many residents, that the revised map still has many problems. Residents have detailed numerous omissions or misplaced paths. Some have hired a law firm stating that the negative declaration approved Thursday is a violation of state law and that an Environmental Impact Report is required. A negative declaration in effect, declares an EIR is not necessary.

Weddings

Send your wedding and engagement announcements to Richard Billings at the Los Altos Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022.

Photos are welcome. If you want your photo returned, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. For more information, call 948-9000, ext. 318, or e-mail

OBITUARY POLICY

WITH PHOTOS - Wednesday prior to next week’s publication.

Mother Branch keeps on giving and giving

One of nine charities that receive money from the Town Crier Holiday Fund is an East Palo Alto institution, Mother Branch.

For 47 years, this now 84-year-old champion of the poor has been distributing food and clothes to the most desperate in her community.

Community Services Agency workers put out desperate call for holiday help

The Community Services Agency started planning for the coming holidays in August with focus groups, as well as staff and client input. Workers wanted to improve on their help to the needy, but the coming months are beginning to make their efforts look futile.

CSA examined the quarter that just closed and found the client base in the emergency assistance program had increased more than 33 percent over last year.

Los Altans discover a new Russia Los Altos Sister Cities delegation visits Syktyvkar

Syktyvkar, Russia - With grand family hugs, representatives of the combined Russian and American membership of the Sisters Cities organization (Syktyvkar-Los Altos) greet one another on October 7, 2002.

The Los Altos Town Council appointed a six-person citizen delegation to visit Syktyvkar, several of whom had made the trip before. Commemorating its 50th anniversary as an independent city, Los Altos is sharing its celebration and many fine presents with its sister city, Syktyvkar.

Foothill instructor honored for popularizing science

Wonderfest 2002 and Annual Reviews named Foothill College astronomy instructor Andrew Fraknoi recipient of the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Underwritten by Annual Reviews as a tribute to their president and editor-in-chief, Samuel Gubins, the prize, including a cash gift of $5,000, was presented to Fraknoi Nov. 2, at the the Bay Area Festival of Science at Stanford University.

“The award celebrates Mr. Fraknoi’s outstanding devotion to bringing the wonders of scientific inquiry to the public,” Wonderfest Director Tucker Hiatt said. Wonderfest is an annual teacher and public education program in science.

Springer to leave behind greener Covington campus

Springer School is putting down roots. The elementary school, temporarily housed at the newly renovated Covington School campus, is raising money to plant trees at its temporary home.

With the beginning of school came some hot summer days and the realization the Covington campus had no shade.

Firm to find new Foothill-De Anza chancellor

The Foothill-De Anza Community College Board has the tedious task of selecting a replacement for Chancellor Leo Chavez, who resigned last month. Ten search firms were contacted and three were selected for further interview last Monday. A new chancellor is expected to be in place by July 1, 2003.

From the original list of 10 search firms, on a 3 to 2 vote, the board selected the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) because they were familiar with the firm, which is devoted exclusively to community colleges.

Spartans make playoff push

Dan Navarro can’t remember when — or even if — it’s ever happened before. Yet all signs point to the SCVAL El Camino Division sending three football teams to the Central Coast Section playoffs.

That third team should be Navarro’s Mountain View High squad, unless the Spartans get upset by last-place Monta Vista in Thursday’s regular-season finale (7:30 p.m. at Cupertino).

LAHS doubles its pleasure Incerpi & Keenan beat teammates to win division title

It was a no-lose situation for Los Altos High, but a no-win situation for the school’s girls tennis coach.

With two of their tandems facing off in the doubles final of last week’s SCVAL El Camino Division Individual Tournament, the Eagles were assured a championship.

Wealthy put their ‘trust’ in Northern

Northern Trust has been trying to establish a presence in Los Altos over the past year. The 113-year-old Chicago-based holding company recently moved into its new building on Third Street, and most of us will be able to enjoy its range of services.

Northern Trust has a sophisticated array of private banking and trust services, along with world-class asset management capabilities. It has 82 offices in the United States, with assets that totaled $38.2 billion at the end of the first quarter.

Steinberg offers insider’s view on growth of Silicon Valley

Goodwin Steinberg, congratulations. You’ve authored a gem that tells about our daily living and it’s your contributions that have made it better. It’s titled, “From the Ground Up: Building Silicon Valley.”

The book is the tale of a young serviceman and his bride who visited the San Francisco Bay Area during World War II. They came back to the “Valley of the Heart’s Delight” and helped make it a place of legend and undreamed-of wealth.

Naturalizer closing doors after 19 years downtown

In a surprise move, Naturalizer Shoes, the downtown shoe store for women, decided to go out of business. The store has been a mainstay on Main Street since 1983; now all furniture, fixtures and inventory must go.

Store owner Jim Dalton, decided the time was right to close. If everything goes as expected, the store should be empty by Thanksgiving.