Daniel Tonnesen from Los Altos now calls Burma, home

Daniel Tonnesen of Los Altos, has taught in Burma for the past four years. He lives in a southeast Asian country engaged in an ongoing civil war in which the ruling military government has jailed the opposition leader who won the last election. Despite the oppresiveness of the current regime, Tonnesen prefers his life in Burma to his time in Los Altos.

The son of Roger and Diane Tonnesen, Daniel, 42, grew up off San Antonio Road only two blocks from downtown Los Altos.

A walk in their shoes

In a fateful sequence of events, seven local residents were privileged to visit the Pretoria Sungardens Hospice in Mamelodi, South Africa, and had the unique opportunity to witness the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS, as well as the awe-inspiring efforts to counteract the disease.

The Los Altos Rotary Club unintentionally provided the opportunity by planning a safari in support of the rotary branch in Petersburg, South Africa. The South African club uses these safaris as fund-raisers to fuel their environmental program.

Los Altos woman dies during morning swim at YMCA

Arlene Gopen believed each person had the ability to make a difference. And for many in her community, she did. The longtime Los Altos resident dedicated much of her time to helping others, especially at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, where she was a member.

“We’re supposed to be the caretakers of the earth. We’re supposed to help each other,” Gopen would say.

Councilman La Poll to run for third consecutive term

Incumbent Francis La Poll threw his name into November’s Los Altos City Council race Friday, just minutes before the filing deadline, City Clerk Carol Scharz confirmed. La Poll is the first candidate to seek a third consecutive four-year term since the council put a voluntary policy in place to limit council terms in 1978 before state law allowed cities to impose such constraints legally. Every councilmember has voluntarily honored the policy since the city established it.

A law that La Poll moved to approve in 1999 could make him the last candidate to serve three, four-year terms if elected.

Los Altos man named publisher of Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Board of Directors last week elected longtime Los Altos resident M. Victor Westberg, a member of the five-member board, effective Aug. 5.

Westberg will serve as manager of the Christian Science Publishing Society, overseeing the business operations of the Christian Science Monitor and its Web site.

El Camino offers weight loss operations

El Camino Hospital last week launched a new weight loss surgery program where increasingly popular stomach-shrinking procedures will be offered to treat severe cases of obesity.

The hospital opened the program to patients Aug. 6, boasting a comprehensive weight loss center that offers medical, psychological and surgical expertise, as well as nutritional counseling.

Foothill College Flea Market closed permanently

Last week, the Foothill College Flea Market closed permanently. The outdoor market held in parking lot F one Saturday a month displayed new and used merchandise, collectibles, jewelry and garage sale items. The merchandise was displayed by vendors paying $18 for table space.

“The flea market closed because it wasn’t making any profit,” said Rose Salido, fine arts division assistant. “The market was a fund-raiser for the drama department Duncan Graham, dean of the fine arts department, made the decision to close it down.”

LETTERS OF AUGUST 13, 2003

costing Americans

Exciting times for voters

As of Monday, seven candidates had filed and nine total had taken out papers with an intention to run. Los Altos School District trustee David Casas and incumbent Councilman Francis La Poll are leading a field of official candidates that also includes Val Carpenter, Curtis Cole, Christopher Friendly Nicholson, Steven Smiley and Ron Packard. The others yet to file, as of Monday, are Jeannice F. Samani and Jeffrey Martin.

Already, some interesting sub-plots emerge: La Poll is seeking his third term on the council, an action that defies a council edict limiting council members to two terms maximum. The stipulation however, is voluntary. Still it will be interesting to see if opposing candidates challenge the incumbent over this.

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 13

passed away at his home in Arroyo Grande on Saturday, July 19, 2003.

He was born August 23, 1907 in Portland, Oregon to John William Eric and Caro Mae Van. He graduated from the University of Washington at Seattle with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering. On June 5, 1937, he married Hazel Marie Owley and they moved to California where he attained the position of Vice President in Marsh & McLennan Companies in San Francisco. He retired in 1972. He enjoyed many things, including music, dancing, travel, and golf but he especially enjoyed his family.

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

Los Altos native decorated for saving helicopter and crew

April 28 began as just another day of flight training for Lt. j.g. Melissa Coombes, a naval flight student. By the end of the day, she would be credited with saving the helicopter and onboard crew from serious danger.

Coombes grew up in Los Altos and graduated from Homestead High School and the U.S. Naval Academy. As a student naval aviator at HT-8, she was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her quick reactions that prevented serious mishap to the aircrew members and aircraft.

Presents for pooches

Los Altos residents Sarah and Sophie Brotzel didn’t unwrap the usual birthday gifts of Barbies and roller skates at their celebration Aug. 10.

The twin girls, who turned 8 Aug. 8, decided to forgo the traditional birthday presents, and instead selflessly asked their approximatley 20 invited friends to bring gifts to donate to Humane Society Silicon Valley.

Officer shifts to school resource position

Los Altos Police Officer John Korges has been a familiar face to the children in the Los Altos School District working as the leader of the police department’s Canine Unit and bringing his four-pawed partner, Gerry, a German shepherd into the classroom.

He and Gerry will be stepping back into the classroom this fall as the department’s new school resource officer.

Three candidates file for LASD Board

Los Altos residents Bill Cooper, Kevin Bella and incumbent Margot Harrigan filed with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Office as candidates for the two four-year seats on the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees as of Aug. 11. for the Nov. 4 election.

Harrigan, a current board member, is running for re-election. Bella is an 18-year-old 2003 graduate of Mountain View High School. Cooper, a district parent who unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the school board two years ago, is running again for board member David Casas’ seat. Casas is running for Los Altos City Council. The Los Altos School District, by law, will pay for the cost of the election. Candidates are responsible to pay for their own campaigns.

Settling for 7th

By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

It wasn’t the ending they had hoped for, but at least the West Bay Titans capped the Amateur Athletic Union under-16 National Championships with a win.

Second-day surge allows Schwartz to win county title

It was curiosity that led an 8-year-old Rachel Schwartz to pick up a golf club for the first time.

“I thought it was kind of interesting when (my dad) told me about the driving range; I thought it was a place you hit golf balls off of parking lots,” she recalled. “I was worried about hitting the cars. But it wasn’t what I thought — it was better.”

Lady Circuit opens studio in Loyola Corners

Lady Circuit, the nationwide 30 Minute Fitness Center, opened a new studio in Loyola Corners last week.

Kristin Gerhard, who brought the program to Sunnyvale last year, found that many of her clients were from Los Altos. She began a search for a more convenient location for the Los Altos area customers and found the empty 1,200-square-foot retail front in Loyola Corners.

Places to chill

Locals could really work up a sweat trying to find a cool spot to escape the summer heat. That’s why we made it easier for you with the Town Crier’s 2003 Top Five summer picks for Ultimate Places to “Chill.”

A ‘Wok on the wild side’ to Mandarin Gourmet

Mandarin Gourmet is located at the crossroads of Cupertino and visitors can’t find a better introduction to the city. While restaurants are closing in many Silicon Valley cities, Mandarin Gourmet flourishes.

Owners Jim Sievers and Fanny King believe in service and that necessary ingredient for a fine restaurant starts in the kitchen. Five chefs are cooking constantly and on busy Friday and Saturday nights, another chef is added to the line to get out the food.

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.

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.