Teens join Los Altos council race

They might not be old enough to buy liquor or sit at a roulette table, but two local teens last week entered the race for Los Altos City Council, hoping to inspire other young adults to become more politically active.

Recent Los Altos High School graduates, Christopher Nicholson and Jeffrey Martin, both 18, each collected the 20 signatures needed to officially file paperwork for the November election, when three council seats will be up for grabs.

Creativity put to the test

Paul Lowchareonkul was living in la-la land a year ago. He was getting ready to graduate from University of California, Irvine (UCI) and was looking forward to a hot Silicon Valley job at a startup company with a fat salary and free lunches.

David Haung, a 1999 Homestead High School graduate said, “All through high school I kept hearing how working was fun and how easy it was to get a decent-paying job. By my senior year, I had a couple of older friends who were already working and obtained those “oh-so- precious” stock options of a perspective IPO (initial public offering). Lured by computer administration jobs that even a trained monkey could do, I chose to work instead of going to college.”

Los Altos residents remember Bob Hope

He danced, sang and joked his way into America’s heart. The whole nation mourned July 27 when beloved entertainer Bob Hope died, two months after his 100th birthday.

Many Los Altos residents grew up with Hope as a part of their lives at a time when everyone took the train or bus, and it cost 10 cents to see a movie.

Grandfather, 76, survives cardiac arrest after his heart stops

Few local residents probably know Jim Burns, but those who met the Illinois resident last month are calling him a Los Altos miracle.

The 76-year-old grandfather survived death during a visit at his son’s Lisa Lane home in Los Altos July 24.

Nine LA residents consider council spot

Three candidates have officially added their names to the November ballot for the Los Altos City Council race, including an 18-year-old Los Altos High School graduate, City Clerk Carol Scharz confirmed Friday.

Valorie Carpenter, a member of the Historical Commission; David Casas, a member of the Los Altos School Board; and Christopher Nicholson, a recent Los Altos High School graduate, will vie for the three, four-year seats open on the council this fall.

Los Altos negotiations with cable provider Comcast set to resume this week after nine-month delay

Los Altos city officials are scheduled to talk with cable provider Comcast this week to set up a process to get contract negotiations moving, City Manager Phil Rose said Friday. This is the first time city officials will meet with Comcast since the company took over the city’s former cable provider AT&T last December.

The city has been negotiating since December 1999 to bring sleeker cable connections to Los Altos. Both parties are in extended, closed-door negotiations.

Thursday memorial for slain St. Francis hoops star Dennehy

A memorial service for former St. Francis High School basketball star Patrick Dennehy is scheduled for 11 a.m., Thursday, at the Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose.

Dennehy, who graduated from St. Francis in 2000, was found slain July 25 in Waco, Texas, where he attended Baylor University. His roommate and former teammate at Baylor, Carlton Dotson, is charged with shooting Dennehy.

LETTERS OF AUGUST 6, 2003

last week’s cover

First citizenship, then rights

We agree on a basic humanitarian level that day workers should not be abused in any way. However, requiring provisions such as sustainable wages, overtime pay and four-hour minimum daily rates, should not be applied to those who are in this country illegally. And whether those involved want to acknowledge it or not, nearly all day workers are here illegally.

These workers are independent contractors, if you will, who are willing to risk being caught and deported for the opportunity to work for wages 10 times what they would get in Mexico. But most are not here seeking citizenship - they’re here to make money then go back to their home country.

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 6

age 86, born in Lakewood, Ohio, was a resident of the Los Altos area for the last 35 years. He died on June 25, 2003. His memorial service was held July 2 in the Foothill Congregational Church in Los Altos where he and his wife Trudy have been active.

He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and his wife was a Kappa Alpha Theta at Ohio State University where they met on a blind date arranged by his roommate. Their college romance lasted for 60 years of marriage. They have four sons; Richard, James, Robert and Michael. Their family includes seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. His career was in investments and marketing.

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

Future Families seeks community support as need for foster care reaches crisis levels

When Dr. Christine Litwin-Sanguinetti took in her first foster child more than 10 years ago, she learned that the rewards of foster care far outweigh the challenges, and her experiences made her a determined advocate for foster children.

In the state of California alone, more than 100,000 children are wards of the court system. Many have been abandoned or legally removed from their homes after being abused or neglected. Without a foster home, these children are placed in crowded and understaffed county shelters, often outside their neighborhoods.

Equalization funding part of Los Altos budget

A late but balanced state budget was approved by the assembly last week, but not after more than $500 million in budget cuts to local government and fee increases for the University of California system; and $10.7 billion in deffered spending and borrowing.

However, included in the $71 billion budget, was an additional $50 million in spending, earmarked for equalization funds for the state’s revenue limit school districts, including the Los Altos School District.

Have arm, will travel

It seems fitting that Erik Davis is competing in the Area Code Games this week.

The incoming senior at Mountain View High school has played baseball in plenty of area codes this summer and probably has given his cell phone quite a workout.

Local club teams cap swim seasons

Although neither local club claimed a team title, several youngsters from both the Covington and Los Altos Golf & Country Club swim teams won individual titles last month at their respective league championship meets.

The Covington Swim Team placed second to Peninsula Covenant Aquatics in the five-member West Bay Swim League Championships, held July 26 at Sequoia High School in Redwood City.

Two Edward Jones’ offices serve Los Altos investors

Rhonda Wentzel has been named to the position of investment representative for existing and future clients at the Edward Jones office at 95 First St. in Los Altos.

Edward Jones serves more than 4 million individual investors through a network of more than 9,000 investment representatives in the United States and Canada. They provide individual investment assessments on a one-to-one basis.

A Toyota by any other name

During the past month, Toyota has given us the chance to go from the sublime to the ridiculous.

However, which adjective you’d apply to which car depends on whether you think that a car should primarily provide luxurious driving satisfaction or function as an efficient, utilitarian transportation tool.

Anniki showcases back-to-school fashions

If you’re going to purchase one essential item for this back-to-school season, it can be blue or faded, zippered or buttoned, flared or form-fitting; however, it must be jeans with a name brand label.

Being a teenager isn’t as easy as it looks. Their clothes are scrutinized more than their schoolbooks when classes start this month.