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Archives » 2002 » Volume 55 , Issue 49, Published on Wednesday, December 4, 2002NewsEnough signatures for open space on the ballotMore than 20 members of the residents group bombarded the tiny Town Hall offices and turned over a hefty stack of petitions containing over 1,200 signatures to City Clerk Karen Jost. The citizens’ initiative aims to protect over 150 acres of town-owned properties as open space by requiring the council to obtain resident approval before selling, abandoning or redesigning the properties. “It’s a milestone in protecting the rural roots of the community,” said Breene Kerr, who was on hand and will take his seat on council Thursday night. “We’re going to protect these open spaces for generations to come.” Downtown hotel is back on the agenda for city siteThe seemingly doomed hotel project slated for downtown Los Altos isn’t a dead deal after all. The Los Altos City Council last week ditched plans to solicit more project proposals for the 78-acre city-owned site at First and Main streets in favor of re-establishing negotiations with hotel developer Roxy Rapp. Time and money appeared to be the deciding factors in last week’s unexpected decision. Councilmen Lou Becker and John Moss said they were adamantly against spending more of either on another project. Parade spotlights local talent Choirs, bands join in holiday spirit among spectacular floats at Festival of Lights
When she was 5, Mary Anne James would sit under the piano and watch her father’s feet press down on the pedals as he played. “I would tell him, ‘Now, daddy, play this. Now, daddy, play that,’” she said. Winbigler estate owners say LAH staff failed to communicate policiesLos Altos Hills city staff members are to blame for a communication lapse, which has stalled construction on the Winbigler estate for over three months and could cost the homeowners millions of dollars in wasted construction and architectural fees, said the homeowners’ attorney. Despite several city reviews of the project, Los Altos Hills staff failed to inform owners Gordon Campbell and Maria Ligeti that revised construction plans, previously approved by town staff, violated conditions placed on the project by the planning commission, according to an appeal written by Attorney Nancy Chillag. Comedy and Chinese food on Christmas EveEver wonder what local Jewish residents do on Christmas Eve? Chinese food and comedy, according to Gloria Goldblatt. The Los Altos resident will present “Chopshticks,” a fund-raiser, on Dec. 24. The event consists of performances by six local comedians, complemented by a six-course Chinese dinner. Draeger’s protects free speech despite political ‘mudslinging’ Los Altos Hills council member decries group collecting signatures in front of First Street marketDraeger’s Markets Vice President John Draeger said his company will not take part in the mudslinging that has beleaguered Los Altos Hills politics in recent months, but neither will it infringe on free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. “We value all of our customers and we don’t feel that permitting free speech rights should ever alienate any customer,” he said. New name and look planned for shopping centerA new name and the addition of a popular gourmet food store are two key elements in a plan to revitalize a failing shopping center on Los Altos’ southern border. Foothill Plaza on Homestead Road is slated to open a Trader Joe’s food market in a revamped mall that will be called Foothill Crossing Shopping Center. LettersLETTERS TO THE EDITORI share your opinion regarding the Los Altos Hills lame duck council’s action on the pathways map (Nov. 11): “The council instead chose to get it over with instead of bowing to the mandate of the voters and doing the right thing for the town.” So I have volunteered my time and support to the Committee for the Preservation of Los Altos Hills efforts to gather enough signatures by Dec. 6 to overturn the council’s bad decision. Fortunately, our laws allow for this referendum process as a simple and nonconfrontational way for the will of the voters to be heard. EditorialQuestions about Los Altos’ futureWhat does this all mean? Will we see fewer Marion Jackston’s downtown and more Learnariums? Will chain operations fast become the only tenants that can afford Los Altos rents? Time will tell, but safe money has it that this year’s Christmas shopping season will serve as a kind of litmus test for local retailers. Those hit hard by the economic doldrums of the past two years are hoping an end-of-the-year shopping flurry makes their struggles worthwhile. Some retailers rake in as much as 25 percent of their total year’s revenue during the Christmas season. WeddingsWeddingsSend 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 ObituariesTOWN CRIER OBITUARIES FOR DEC. 4Ginnie was an especially talented tennis player with an impressive collection of trophies in both singles and doubles tournaments in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also enjoyed skiing every winter with her husband at various ski resorts throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Among her other interests were sewing, reading, home decorating, working out with exercise videos and working outside on the five and a half acres of her new home. Ginnie was blessed with stunning good looks, which, when combined with her natural athleticism and her active and health conscious lifestyle, enabled her to retain her youthful appearance and vibrant energy right up to the time that she was so tragically stricken. Ginnie is survived by her husband of 35 years, her brother, Dr. Howard Malstrom of Tomball, Texas, her aunt, Bernice Wenberg of Batavia, Illinois, and her nephew, Jon Malstrom of Spring, Texas. CommunityTerrific tales worth telling ‘Tellabration’ yields variety of yarns, from reflective to the hilarious
When was the last time you were told a tall tale? Probably when you were a child. Yet, if you’d attended the Nov. 23 “Tellabration” at the Los Altos United Methodist Church, your inner child would have gotten more than its fair share of bedtime stories — everything from fractured fairy tales to cowboy poetry. “Tellabration” is a celebration of storytelling for adults. It started in 1987 in Connecticut, and today has branched out to nine countries. Just-in-time service for kids - Help One Child
The focus: one child at a time. The problem: the endless stream of children who need just such a focus. Nine years ago, a Los Altos couple, Mark and Joann Morris, responded to the needs of one group of children by organizing Help One Child. Its purpose was to recruit, train and support married couples and single adults to provide foster care and adoption of children “left behind” in the family and childrens’ shelters in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Help One Child is one of nine organizations supported by the annual Town Crier Holiday Fund. Susi Johnson, 78, leaves behind legacy of ‘graciousness, elegance and kindness’
Susanna “Susi” Johnson, 78, the wife of three-time Los Altos Hills mayor Robert Johnson, died Nov. 27. Although she endured two years of great physical and spiritual distress, she died peacefully in her home with close relatives in attendance. SchoolsLoyola holds Ability Awareness Week
Abilities of all kinds were celebrated at Loyola School as part of Ability Awareness Week, Nov. 18-22. Throughout the week, students participated in various activities simulating a range of learning and physical challenges — from mobility impairments, blindness and dyslexia to fine motor challenges. State allocations put Foothill-De Anza district budgets in jeopardyEnrollment of full-time equivalent students (FTES) increased 6 percent during the summer session and 5 percent during the fall quarter at the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. The state was unable to address the rapid growth in numbers of community college students, which resulted in 1,700 unfounded FTES. “When we deal with unfounded FTES that means the state has not paid for them and we are unable to support them,” said Vice Chancellor Mike Brandy, who added that the district had to absorb $1.4 million in support programs. “We had enough money in the ending balance to cover this, but we will have looming problems ahead of us.” Discussion at Foothill focuses on U.S. involvement in Middle East
Pandora’s Box of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S. involvement in the Middle East was opened for the sake of discussion at Foothill College, Nov. 20. Sponsored by Foothill’s Middle College Program, a panel discussed what was billed as a “panel presentation on the U.S. intervention in the Middle East: War or imperialism?” ‘Escape School’ educates Springer students on avoiding abductionsNearly 400 children a year are abducted by strangers and never seen alive again. Children can avoid becoming part of this gruesome statistic by understanding a few basic principles and mastering some simple techniques. More than 200 concerned parents, some with their children, came to hear how this could be done during a Nov. 9 session of “Escape School,” held for Springer students and parents at the Covington School multipurpose room in Los Altos. SportsCougars outmuscle Spartans in semis
Mountain View High knew it could hold up for only so long against a much bigger San Lorenzo Valley squad in last Saturday’s Central Coast Section Division IV semifinal at Santa Clara High. After an inspired half of football, the Spartans simply wore out and the top-seeded Cougars came away with a 33-21 win. Schnitter captures CCS singles title
Stephanie Schnitter walked into the singles final of the Central Coast Section girls tennis tournament when her semifinal opponent failed to show up. Later in the day, the St. Francis High junior walked all over the No. 1 seed. BusinessLos Altos residents ready to open new digital imaging center in own hometown
Longtime Los Altos residents Mike and Margot Harrigan will open the first Image Arts Etc. in the Bay Area this Friday. Image Arts Etc. is a new concept in photo processing from film to digital and brings together state-of-the-art digital technology, from portrait studios to framing craftsmanship. Mike started his high-tech career at Hewlett-Packard’s printer division, in addition to co-founding two startups. After working 30 years in the industry, Mike said he doesn’t want to start another high-tech company. “I wanted to do something small, local and innovative and have the look of high-tech.” Schools foundation teams with downtown merchants on ‘Community Shopping Sunday’The Los Altos Educational Foundation will be putting on “LAEF Community Shopping Sunday.” This event’s purpose is to provide funds to support local schools which may be in need. The all day fund-raiser will take place this Sunday. |
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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