He’s a natural with kids

As a boy, Keith Gutierrez experienced the joys of summer camp and youth sports and wondered what it was like to be the counselors and coaches who ran the programs.

Fresh out of Lincoln High School in San Jose, Gutierrez got his chance to be on “the inside,” filling a summer camp counseling position at Hidden Villa nature preserve in Los Altos Hills. Gutierrez proved a “natural” at getting kids in touch with the wonders of the wilderness.

Downtown parking comes with a price tag

Los Altos employees will have to pay to work downtown beginning this fall if they use the parking plazas. The Los Altos City Council last week placed an annual $36 price tag on the all-day parking spaces in downtown’s parking district under a new permit system intended to boot unauthorized vehicles from the area and free up spaces for customers.

“Short of building new parking, there are no other solutions that can increase the amount of available parking,” said Economic Development Coordinator Abby Veeser in a staff report.

District clears major hurdle to coastal connection

Local open space enthusiasts may have cause for cheer after Thursday’s Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District meeting. District officials are ready to approve a final environmental impact report and draft service plan, a major step toward annexation of 140,000 acres of coastal lands that could offer continuous undeveloped land from Santa Clara County to the Pacific Ocean.

If the district’s board of directors approves the documents, detailing the district’s intentions for managing coastal open space, the Los Altos-based agency will then prepare plans for annexation with the Local Agency Formation Commissions of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. These agencies are in charge of approving annexation of land, or authority to supervise the coastal properties.

Money issues sour Los Altos’ ‘Apricot Inn’ hotel deal

Money conflicts appear to have been the deal breaker for the downtown Los Altos hotel project slated for the city-owned property on First and Main streets. The Los Altos City Council broke negotiations with Apricot Inn Associates May 27 after the development company rejected the city’s final lease terms for the .78-acre site.

The city wanted a larger share of rent and profit-sharing options than Palo Alto developer Roxy Rapp was willing to pay, according to city documents.

LAH ranks among cities with the highest identity theft cases reported in the nation

Imagine this: Someone gets hold of your name, credit card information and Social Security number. They pretend to be you — running up outrageous bills, even committing crimes, and as far as your bank, creditors and various authorities are concerned, you’re the one behind it.

Cases of identity theft are on the rise, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, and rural, affluent towns like Los Altos Hills are becoming common playgrounds for these types of crimes.

Why is ‘Ranger Keith’ still in limbo?

It is a mystery, however, why the city is taking so long to solidify a job description so that Gutierrez can make the shift from longtime independent contractor to full-time employee. With the clear support of the city council and dozens of parents who have written in on his behalf, it seems the wheels of city government could turn a bit faster to secure his position. However, Gutierrez is facing the same uncertainty about his Los Altos future as he did in October when allegedly told his position would be part of the city staff.

Creating the staff position means establishing a job description that outlines what the duties are, then advertising for applicants, of which Gutierrez would be one.

LETTERS OF JUNE 4, 2003

thanks to ‘friends’

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

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 4

died May 26, 2003 at age 83. She suffered from Alzheimer’s. Dearly beloved wife of 55 years to Robert Earl Graham. She is also survived by a brother Harry Young of Ohio, her loving children; Margaret Lovetro of Los Altos, Patricia (Brad) Caftel of El Cerrito, Douglas Graham of Mtn. View, Susan (Douglas) Rusk and granddaughter Lauren Rusk of Gilbert, AZ.

Born in Illinois, she also lived in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, Long Island, New York and for the last 48 years, in Los Altos, CA. She was a member of the Los Altos Methodist Church. She earned degrees in Education from Bowling Green State Univ., Ohio and in Electrical Engineering from Purdue Univ., Indiana. Over the course of her life, she was a school teacher, a Navy Wave, an Electrical Engineer, a full time mother and a postal clerk. Conversations with post office customers were a joy for her. She also enjoyed her many friends, travel, crossword puzzles, mathematics and other activities that challenged her mind.

10 years as the center of town

The idea of a plaza in downtown Los Altos was part of a long-range study the city had made, which included grading and resurfacing both State and Main streets. The plan was dormant for lack of funding.

25th annual Special Games at De Anza

Student athletes gave it their best as they crossed the finish lines at the 25th Annual Kiwanis Special Games at De Anza College in Cupertino, May 30.

Former Los Altos Postmaster Walter Chronert, founder of the games was honored by having the event named after him.

Bullis site committee makes recommendations

Bullis-Purissima School parents and concerned community members voiced their opinions to the Los Altos School District’s Site Disposal Committee about what to do with the soon to be vacant Bullis School site at a public hearing May 28.

A range of suggestions urged the committee to make a fiscally responsible recommendation that was best for all of the children in the district and for the communities of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. Some urged the committee to think of Bullis Charter School or some form of a public school in Los Altos Hills as the best use for the space.

Miller time

Allie Miller continues to raise the bar — literally and figuratively.

The Los Altos High junior not only won the high jump at last Friday’s Central Coast Section championship meet, but also finished second in the 300-meter hurdles in another personal-best effort.

Javitz says home insurance is a whole new ballgame

The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors tour meetings discuss a variety of subjects. Jimmy Kang opened last Friday’s meeting with a discussion of the latest mortgage rates offered by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

“It’s deja vu. Rates haven’t been this low in 40 years,” Kang said. “For a conforming 30-year loan it’s 5.25 percent, and 15-year conforming is 4.875 percent, with jumbos comparable.”

Time to make a few bucks by investing in stocks

If last week was a sign of things to come, this summer could be one to hang around home and make a few bucks investing in the stock market.

Wall Street notched its third straight month of gains after a couple of reports showing upticks in consumer sentiment enhanced by the soon-to-be-felt impact of the huge economic stimulus package.

The Z returns with a roar

The sports car world was turned upside down in 1970 when Datsun (now Nissan) introduced the 240Z. Stylish as a Jaguar, practical as an MG, with performance to match the Porsche, the two-seat, three-door sports car offered the best of all worlds to the driving enthusiast.

With a price in the range of most young adults, the cars flew out of the showroom as fast as Datsun could ship them from Japan.