SARS hits home

A giant brown teddy bear oversees a group of stuffed animals tidily arranged on a blue and pink blanket in an empty crib in the Ficks’ Los Altos home. Abbie and her husband, Stephen, were just days away from getting the adoption paperwork needed to bring a baby girl home from China this month, after an almost two-year wait, when they received news that the Chinese government had halted overseas adoptions to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Since March, the contagious illness has killed 682 people worldwide, mostly in China where it was first detected, according to the World Health Organization’s update May 22.

The adoption would have required the Ficks to travel to the American Embassy in Guangzhou, the location of the first case of SARS.

School district to hold public hearing on Bullis site

The Los Altos School District has scheduled a public hearing 7 p.m., today, in the Bullis-Purissima School Multiuse Room, 25890 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills.

The purpose of the public hearing is for the LASD’s Site Disposal Committee, also known as the “7-11 Committee,” to hear input from the public about acceptable community uses for the surplus Bullis School property.

Sheriffs to discuss crime prevention in Los Altos Hills

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a free crime prevention presentation at 7 p.m., Thursday, at the Bullis-Purissima School Multiuse Room, 25890 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills.

Detectives from the fraud and property crimes unit will discuss ways for residents to protect themselves against residential burglary and identity theft; specifically, from burglars, computer hackers and mail thieves.

Antiochian church expansion plans too big, some neighbors say

Plans to rebuild and expand the Los Altos church that an arsonist destroyed last year appear to have sparked friction in the residential neighborhood where the congregation has gathered to pray over the past 40 years.

Officials from the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer on Magdalena Avenue are seeking approval from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to rebuild their burnt church and to replace the former one-story, 4,163-square-foot social hall with a two-story, 17,852-square-foot banquet hall that will seat 380 people and accommodate a day-care center for 81 children.

LA council may allow residents to revote on defeated overlay zone

The Los Altos City Council will consider giving Jay Street residents a second chance to ban two-story homes from their neighborhood if they can convince the city that last year’s election process was flawed. This is the first time the council has considered conducting a revote on a second-story overlay application.

The May 13 decision could give other neighborhoods that fail to pass the temporary zoning change a second chance.

Policy change paves the way for street-calming improvements

Los Altos residents trying to slow traffic on their streets may find fewer city roadblocks are better. The Los Altos City Council this month removed voting stipulations from its Neighborhood Traffic Management program to make it easier for residents to petition the city for street improvements.

Nonvoters will no longer be included in the final tally as “no” votes under the policy change. This means only those who vote will have a voice.

Police arrest man after he fails to return bicycle from ‘test ride’

Los Altos police caught up with a thief who allegedly rode away on a $1,400 bicycle on display at the Bicycle Outfitters in Los Altos when he showed up at a second bike shop where employees recognized him.

The man allegedly took the bike on a test ride May 13 but failed to return to pick up keys that he had left as collateral at the downtown shop, police said.

Police arrest bank thief unable to find getaway car

Los Altos police apprehended a Vallejo woman unable to locate her getaway driver in the North Parking Plaza during a bank robbery Thursday afternoon.

Police said Monica Ross, 43, allegedly tried to withdraw money from someone else’s account at Wells Fargo bank in downtown Los Altos at 4:25 p.m. using checks and other pieces of identity stolen from a purse in Hayward the previous day.

LETTERS OF MAY 21, 2003

on Adobe watershed

If it needs doing, do it now!

It has taken me about eight months to realize that I have changed very little over the years. I had a tendency to put difficult decisions off then and usually do the same now. It takes me forever to decide to balance my checkbook, only to find that it just won’t balance. I put off phone calls that are problematic, only to find that the problems still are waiting for me. Journey with me to my past.

It was 1947, and the young college student could give scant attention to scholarly pursuits. All her thoughts and dreams were centered on the young man who had recently proposed marriage. What could be more natural? However, since she was enrolled in a senior course, which could affect her future as a teacher, she made a monumental effort to concentrate on her studies.

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 28

passed away May 5, 2003, at the age of 77. He was a long time resident of Los Altos and Burlingame. Beloved husband of Elizabeth, devoted father of Jennifer Domitilli (son-in-law William and Grandpa to Lucas and Brian); Virginia Carroll; Debi Bonfanti (son-in-law Richard); Sheila Ton (son-in-law Steve and grandpa to Pamela and Garrett); Jim Rex (daughter-in-law Donna and grandpa to Alexandra and Sam). Don grew up in San Francisco. He graduated from Oregon State University and was a long time employee of Lockheed. He served in WWII USAF.

Arrangements under the directions of the Los Altos Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries, 399 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos. Details of the memorial are undecided. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SEMPERVIRENS Fund, Drawer BE, Los Altos, CA 94023

Weddings

Send your wedding, engagement or anniversary announcements to Avinell Johnson 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. 335, or e-mail

St. Joseph the Worker Center manager named ‘Woman of the Year’

The California State Assembly members recently announced their designees for “Woman of the Year.” Maria Marroquin, manager of St. Joseph the Worker Center in Mountain View, received the award from Sally Lieber, California State Assemblymember for the 22nd District.

Marroquin was recognized for her efforts to provide jobs to day workers in this area — Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, parts of San Jose, and most of Santa Clara. She has ensured hundreds of men and women the potential for a more secure future.

Los Altos teen gets ‘Switched’

Many people often wonder what it would be like to live as someone else and see life through a different set of eyes. Los Altos resident Matthew Sereni got the chance to live out that fantasy recently on a new life-swapping reality series.

Starting next week, the ABC Family network will begin airing “Switched!” a half-hour show that gives teen-agers from different parts of the country a crack at trading identities.

Krauses give $2 million to Citadel for leadership ed

The Krause Foundation of Los Altos Hills is giving $2 million to The Citadel Foundation to support, advance and endow leadership activities conducted by The Citadel.

Initiated by Bill and Gay Krause, the gift will fund The Krause Initiative in Leadership and will endow and establish The Krause Chair in Leadership.

Los Altos Boy Scout Troop 37 marks 85 years of involvement

Boy Scout Troop 37 has scheduled a celebration 6:30-8:30 p.m., June 2, to mark its 85th anniversary.

In July 1917, when the scouting movement was less than a decade old, Stanford teacher Herman Peters submitted the names of a dozen boys, 12 to 14, with a petition for acceptance. By early 1918, the Los Altos charter was approved, designated as Troop 1.

Budget cuts continue, forcing layoffs in Foothill-De Anza district

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District provided details of the 2003-04 budget cuts, which include the elimination of a large contingent of classified employees. With the possibility of bumping rights, last Monday’s meeting turned into an emotional event.

“We are not happy with these cuts. You (district board) have to consider the budget crisis, but we must work together,” said Javier Rveda, chapter chairman for Foothill-De Anza SIEU Local 715. “Don’t forget the contribution we have made to this district. This is no fault of our own, so don’t forget who we are.”

Governor modifies Basic Aid cuts to relief of MV-LA high school district

The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District was able to breathe a small sigh of relief last Wednesday, when Gov. Gray Davis withdrew plans to take away the state’s Basic Aid funding for schools.

A Basic Aid district receives a basic amount of general funding from the state, since the local property tax revenue within the district exceeds what could be provided under other state funding formulas.

MVHS Principal Hyland named ‘Champion’ for youth

The Mountain View-Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Challenge Team honored Mountain View High School Principal Pat Hyland with the 2003 Challenge Team Champion for Youth award at its eighth annual benefit breakfast May 8.

Hyland received plaques from the cities of Mountain View and Los Altos and a certificate of appreciation from the California State Assembly for her activism and advocacy for youth in Santa Clara County.

Falcons bring Spartans to their knees

Last Thursday was Seniors Appreciation Day for the Mountain View High baseball team, and its coaching brain trust had a dilemma: how much playing time to dole out to its seniors in the regular-season finale against Saratoga that had major playoff ramifications.

While the Spartans had enough Central Coast Section power points to have locked up a playoff berth before the contest, the Falcons needed the win to help their chances of making the postseason tournament.

Moving On: Eagles, Lancers qualify for CCS

When a baseball team is rolling like Los Altos High, the playoffs can’t begin soon enough.

“They’re confident they can win, and they’re eager,” head coach Sandy Wihtol said of his Eagles, who enter Thursday’s Central Coast Section Division II opener on a six-game winning streak. “They’re eager to get out there — and they’re ready.”

Led by Lozares, Lancers cruise to CCS golf crown; Los Altos’ Sines finishes 12th

At the end of last week’s Central Coast Section championship tournament, St. Francis High golf coach Dave Ferriera approached a group of his players to find out how the team had fared. Their expressions gave nothing away.

“I wasn’t sure if they had won, finished second or what; there wasn’t any jubilation or excitement” said Ferriera, who didn’t get to follow his players around the course because he had to marshal the event with the other teams’ coaches. “They were nonchalant. I guess they’re not going to get excited until it’s all done.”

Dog-grooming salons thrive in Los Altos

If you’re not among the canine cognoscenti, you probably wonder what all the big fuss is over pooches — but visit a Los Altos dog-grooming shop and you’ll realize that “man’s best friend” is no misnomer.

“I have a couple of dogs coming in before 8 a.m. the day of the pet parade,” said Debbie Willson, dog grooming operator at Beaugay’s in downtown Los Altos. “When they march down Main Street, the owners want to be proud of their pets.”

Looks like the market is running out of steam

There’s a bunch of statistical indicators that show the market has run out of steam. We have risen too fast, and it appears the market is in a consolidating phase. Don’t look for a big drop, but there will be some scaredy-cats taking profits this week.

We will get another batch of economic data on Friday that will offer more clues about what lies ahead, and I look for the market to finish out the week with light selling. Just call it a dip or a pullback, but have the broker put a stop on whatever you do.

New clinic offers nonsurgical options to fight effects of aging

Dean Vistnes, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon, is hoping his SkinSpirit Skincare Clinic & Spa — which opened earlier this week in downtown Palo Alto — will turn some people away from the surgical suite and point them toward alternative therapies.

“With the new nonsurgical options available today, combined with a top-notch at-home skin-care regimen, you may be able to stave off major surgery indefinitely,” Vistnes said. “There’s nothing you can do to stop the aging process, but there are many things you can do to affect the age you look. Our mission is to honestly educate people about taking control and understanding how to use the proven technologies and medical-grade products to achieve visible results safely.”

Pets can be good for your health

When it comes to keeping her spirits up, Mountain View resident Phyllis Olson doesn’t know where she’d be without her dog, Louis.

“He’s helped me through some difficult times,” the 87-year-old said of her Papillon. “He’s always been there for me.”