El Camino workers, management strike deal

Hospital workers last week ended a 12-week succession of protests waged against El Camino Hospital after striking a deal with management that will provide employees higher wage increases and improved health coverage in a new two-year contract.

The contract contains substantial gains in several important areas, including wages, health insurance and job security, said Andrew Hagelshaw, a spokesman for Service Employee International Union, Local 715, which represents more than 1,000 hospital employees. An “overwhelming number” of workers approved the contract during a late-night vote July 16, he said.

Five candidates take out papers for Los Altos council race

There should be no shortage of candidates in this November’s Los Altos City Council race if every potential candidate who took out papers files them next month.

Since the filing period opened July 14, five residents had taken out candidacy papers Monday for the three, four-year seats on the Los Altos City Council up for grabs this November when incumbents Kris Casto, Lou Becker and Francis La Poll’s terms expire.

50 years of views from hills

Mary Cristy’s Los Altos Hills home is full of treasures. The secluded redwood ranch house bears the hallmarks of having been lived in by creative people. There are artistic photographs of family members on the walls, oil paintings of sunsets and still lifes, a Picasso print and even a few Byzantine Madonnas scattered around.

Things have changed, both inside and outside the house, in the 50 years since Cristy moved to Los Altos Hills with her husband and started writing for the Los Altos Town Crier. But the accumulation of beautiful objects in the house can be likened to Cristy’s gathering of her own treasures: inspirations and ideas about the essence of writing.

Bullis Charter School decision expected Sept. 3

It was the Santa Clara County Board of Education’s turn to hold a public hearing regarding the Bullis Charter School July 16. This is the first charter school appeal that the county board has heard, according to Bonnie Plummer, assistant superintendent for instructional services at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. The board expects to grant or deny the charter school’s appeal in writing as required by law at its Sept. 3 meeting.

The public hearing is part of the appeal process for the charter petition at the county level. The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees denied the charter May 5.

State budget cuts could leave hundreds of Los Altos seniors without nursing care

Los Altos senior health workers joined a statewide demonstration last week to protest possible cuts in Medi-Cal funding that could leave hundreds of local seniors without nursing care.

The Los Altos Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Center turned off its lights for 10 minutes in front of a 100-plus crowd to symbolize the threat to nursing homes posed by the state budget crisis.

LETTERS OF JULY 23, 2003

Following up on John Rossi’s recent letter to the editor, we want to express our frustration over the Los Altos City Council’s total lack of opposition regarding Mountain View’s proposed water reservoir project to be built in our Los Altos neighborhood.

U.S. soldier recalls Los Altos while stationed in Iraq

Recently I received a package from my mother, Diane Lillibridge. In and amongst the candy and baby wipes was the May 21 issue of the Los Altos Town Crier. I read about the 56th Pet Parade and about a soldier, David Scott, serving in the 101st Airborne Division. I’m glad I’m not the only “Los Altan” over here in Iraq.

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 23

retired local high school teacher, passed away in Los Altos July 15, 2003.

A native of Emporia, Virginia, she came to California in 1954 with her husband, James Hoyt Dozier , a naval officer, and their children. During her husband’s military career, the family moved several times within the United States and California before settling in Los Altos in 1959.

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

FoalQuest finds homes for young horses

Every year, hundreds of new foals find homes through an organization known as FoalQuest.

The year-round efforts of FoalQuest volunteers ensure that healthy young horses of various equine breeds are adopted out to horse enthusiasts in the Bay Area and across the United States who want to raise horses for riding, or just for companionship. Without the ongoing efforts of FoalQuest, these foals would end up in feedlots.

Aspects of love: Los Altos teen’s film featured in Jewish Film Festival

A Los Altos teen recently ventured behind the camera to talk about being young, Jewish and in love. The result — “Four Short Films About Love,” the collaborative creation of 16-year-old Max Andrews, a Los Altos High School senior, and nine other teens. The 23rd annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival will showcase the film, Sunday through July 31 at the Palo Alto CineArts Theatre.

The festival’s run in Berkeley and San Rafael will also feature the film.

New principal at St. Nicholas School looking forward to year

Matt Komar is having a busy summer moving into his new office — the principal’s office at St. Nicholas School in Los Altos Hills.

Komar, a native of San Jose, was recently hired to replace principal Jim Realini at the start of this school year.

What a break

Chad Ziemendorf could be preparing for his senior year at UC Santa Barbara, where he emerged as a baseball star last season. Maybe he’d be living near the beach, spending his free time hanging out with friends and catching some rays.

Instead, the Los Altos native is chasing his dream.

Brothers dominate decathlon

Brothers Douglas and Casey Roche of Los Altos moved up in age classes and still placed first in their respective divisions at last month’s Junior Olympic Regional Decathlon Championship in Santa Rosa.

Douglas, undefeated in the decathlon the last three years, easily captured the Young Men’s Division (ages 17-18) and qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championships in Miami, Fla. His regional score of 4,797 set a new personal record. Douglas also established personal bests in the 100-meter sprint, shot put, 400 run, 110 high hurdles, discus, javelin and 1,500 run.

Five Paws Bakery caters to canines

The dogs that visit Five Paw Bakery may sit up and beg for more when they get a taste and whiff of the posh-life at the specialty dog treat store, which opened Tuesday in downtown Los Altos.

Paul Callary, owner, head pastry chef and self-proclaimed “lead sled dog,” said the bakery is “a whimsical, fun-loving place,” which enables a “healthy pet indulgence” with all natural freshly baked treats and gift products.

Pilgrim Haven offers health advice at fair

Maintaining good health during the senior years may not be as easy as one might believe, despite the recent explosion of products and resources on the market geared for the aging population.

“It’s no longer one-size-fits-all. People want to understand the differences between different products,” said Christina Martinez a health-care employee for Purdue Pharmaceutical who was in Los Altos last week answering health questions at Pilgrim Haven retirement community. “It’s not just drugs, the frustration includes education resources and practices.”