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Archives » 2002 » Volume 55 , Issue 50, Published on Wednesday, December 11, 2002NewsChanges ahead under new council’s reignBreene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky said they have a mandate from the citizens of Los Altos Hills — to change the tune of town politics. The two techies-turned-politicians were sworn in as the newest members of the Los Altos Hills City Council Thursday and hope to carry the momentum from their overwhelming election victory last month to bring about change on council. Street upgrades will mean more traffic delaysStreet improvements planned for the Covington-Springer intersection will mean a shorter walk for pedestrians, but longer delays for motorists. The Los Altos City Council approved street upgrades for the intersection at Springer and Covington roads that include a bumped out curb on the southern side of the four-way stop. The curb is designed to extend into the right-of-way near the corner, shortening the crossing distance for pedestrians. First agenda item: Stucco town hall put on holdThe newest members of the Los Altos Hills City Council wasted no time in implementing their inclusive government policy, as council voted Thursday to create a citizens committee, including residents and council members, to decide a process for determining the design, cost and time frame for a new town hall. Council members Breene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky took their oath of office and volunteered to serve on the committee as council representatives, along with colleague Mike O’Malley. Seven resident members will be selected by the council from a pool of applicants at the Dec. 19 meeting. LAH council urges school district to keep Bullis-Purissima openConcerned Bullis-Purissima School parents had no trouble convincing the Los Altos Hills City Council Thursday to adopt a resolution calling for the preservation of a public school in town and opposing any action leading to the closure of the Fremont Road elementary school. Council forwarded the resolution to the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees, who were scheduled to vote Monday on the configuration of the district’s campuses for the 2003-04 school year. The district is currently trying to keep all seven schools open but may have to close a school to stay within budget. Fate of theater put in city’s hands Tuesday Council decides whether to move forward withBy Linda Taaffe / Town Crier Staff Writer The Los Altos City Council was scheduled to decide Tuesday night the fate of a downtown movie theater proposed for the South Plaza parking lot near San Antonio Road. 50 years of fun Anniversary celebrants kick up their heels and frolic
Of the 27,693 residents of Los Altos, 300 came to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a dinner dance at the Los Altos Golf and Country Club last Saturday. The focus of the evening was the activity of the city councils over the past five decades. Displaying picket-sized placards that described the frailties and strengths of the 50 years of frustration with city councils, the 16 honorable past-mayors in attendance remembered those as the best of times. Each member of the present Los Altos council is also a former mayor. 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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