Behind the fireworks

From symphony music at Shoreline to fun and games at Shoup park, Los Altos residents have plenty of options for Independence Day this Friday.

For nearly two decades, the Independence Day celebration at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View has been the quintessential Fourth of July bash for thousands of local residents.

Packard Foundation chief steps down

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s top employee plans to step down from his position at the start of next year, officials from the Los Altos-based non-profit organization announced June 24.

Richard T. Schlosberg, 59, said he will retire from his post as president and chief executive officer of one of the nation’s highest ranked charitable organizations in January to pursue other civic interests and spend time with his family. The Los Altos Hills resident will stay connected to the foundation in whatever manner helps smooth the transition, he added.

Federal block on library Internet use won’t affect Los Altos and Woodland libraries

A new federal ruling requiring public libraries to filter out Internet pornography or face funding cuts will not affect the Santa Clara County Library System, which includes the Los Altos and Woodland libraries.

The Santa Clara County Library System does not receive federal funding, said Gay Strand, the Los Altos Library finance manager. “The Supreme Court decision will have no effect on us whatsoever.”

Los Altos picks up $68,000 tab for pool study

Los Altos taxpayers will pick up the tab for extensive environmental studies that a superior court judge ordered the city to conduct on the community pool project slated for Rosita Park.

The Los Altos City Council last week agreed to take $68,365 from the city’s unreserved Capital Improvements Fund to hire a consultant to conduct a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) rather than require SPLASH, the non-profit group funding the project’s construction, to pay for the study.

Los Altos council reconsiders permit parking plan

Downtown merchants miffed over the Los Altos City Council’s decision to put a parking permit plan in place without their input will have the opportunity to voice their opinions July 8 during a special public hearing. The council agreed last week to possibly rescind the paid-parking idea, pending public comment from downtown merchants who said they were never notified of the city’s plan until after the council had already made its decision.

A handful of merchants urged the council last week to correct what they called a flawed notification process and to hold a public hearing regarding the parking plan. Merchants suggested the city update its database with information from its business license application records.

Brown Act needed more than ever

The law basically shut the door on closed meetings and secret decisions by opening the door to the public for comment and participation.

Under the act, all regular meetings must be posted and open to the public. Mandating public notice for meetings came after one California city council voted themselves a pay raise without the public’s knowledge.

LETTERS OF JULY 2, 2003

pool work in MV?

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 18

died on May 17 at the age of 85 while visiting his daughter Elizabeth in Falls Church, Virginia. Born in Stamford, Connecticut, the youngest of three sons of Stanley and Florence Shipley. He graduated with a BA from the University of Connecticut in 1942 and went on to receive his MA at the University of Massachusetts in 1944.

During World War II he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at which time he met his future wife, Bernice Pollock, an Army nurse. They were married in 1944 in Kansas, and after discharge from the Army, moved to Colorado and then to Connecticut in 1946.

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

The big screen comes to Los Altos

After years of waiting, families in the Los Altos area can go to movies in their home town. The Eagle Theater on the Los Altos High School campus will begin showing major films to the public beginning July 12, according to James Gibbs, the new theater director.

“The summer series for families is set to kick off during the Arts & Wine Festival weekend with currently popular films,” added Gibbs, who took over as Eagle Theater director June 15.

St. William dedicates new parish hall

St. William Parish won’t have to postpone its annual array of festivities any longer. The Los Altos parish gathered Sunday to dedicate their Family Life Center at 611 S. El Monte Ave.

The parish, without a large gathering space since they sold the school property on Rosita Avenue to the city of Los Altos in 1996, has had to suspend traditional parish events such as the rummage sale, Oktoberfest, crab dinners and St. Patrick’s Day parties until the center was completed.

Los Altos School Board still undecided on what to do with Bullis-Purissima School site

Bullis-Purissima School closed its doors this month as the last K-6 public school in Los Altos Hills, but the fate of the school site has still not been decided.

The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees accepted the district’s 7-11 Committee’s majority report recommendations for what to do with the site, as presented at its June 16 meeting. No decision regarding the site was made, or action taken.

LASD approves a balanced budget

After a tough year for school finances, the Los Altos School District approved a balanced budget for the 2003-04 school year, June 16.

Unlike the layoffs the district had to experience last year the district is actually hiring four teachers and has a four percent reserve rather than the state’s required three percent.

Board won’t recommend rehiring of Los Altos PE teacher Mansingh

A standing-room-only crowd of Paul Mansingh supporters filled the board room at the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District last week in hopes of getting the popular Los Altos High physical education teacher his job back.

Parents and teachers spoke on Mansingh’s behalf during a special meeting held June 24 and the board received a petition with about 400 signatures supporting his return.

Golden Nate

When Nate Thurmond appears at a Golden State Warriors summer basketball camp, as he did last week in Los Altos Hills, he doesn’t critique the players’ post moves, defensive stances or jump shots.

It’s not like Thurmond isn’t qualified. After all, the former Warrior is in the Basketball Hall of Fame and considered among the best centers in NBA history.

Diabetes-testing device available over the counter

Innovative ideas are often conceived at unexpected times. In the case of Los Altos resident Michael Allen, it was while on vacation that he visualized the concept for his own breakthrough brainchild.

Six years ago, Allen was flying back from the East Coast when he saw a magazine ad for a pocket calculator. Allen had worked in the medical device industry for nearly 20 years, and the ad got his mind-wheels cranking over how to make medical equipment more compact and convenient, specifically medical instruments for diabetes.

Investors wary of high stock prices

Last week was the first week in months all indexes closed lower, with investors taking some profits and driving down prices. Investors are concerned that stock prices are getting out of hand and are looking for a market correction to reasonable levels.

After more than three months of stock rallies, with the Dow Jones industrials gaining 24 percent since October, there is growing concern the market is ahead of itself. Analysts say investors are searching for more solid evidence the economic recovery is on track.

Blast from the past

How much would you pay to relive your high school days? If you were in the class of 1969, how does $29,290 sound? For that you can be big man in the campus parking lot and date the homecoming queen, whether or not you managed either of those feats in high school.

That price will buy a 2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1, one of the best of the retro cars currently on the market. Slide into the driver’s seat, trimmed with ’60s “Comfort-Weave” leather and painted Torch Red with black accents that my wife Genie and I drove recently. Or you can have it in Competition Orange, Screaming Yellow, or other attention-grabbing colors.