Red zone redux?

The proximity of Mars to Earth last week can be compared to the collective success the local high school football teams enjoyed last season. Neither is likely to happen again in our lifetimes.

Four of the five teams made the playoffs in 2002 and all of them advanced past the opening round. Repeating what’s believed to be a first-time feat will be difficult, bordering on impossible. Especially since two of the qualifying schools have been elevated to one of the Central Coast Section’s strongest divisions despite graduating most of their key players.

Walgreens is open

East Palo Alto wasn’t the only Peninsula city celebrating the grand opening of a much anticipated store last week. Los Altans got their first peek at the downtown Walgreens Aug. 26 - minus the traffic, crowds and media frenzy East Palo Alto’s newest big blue retail store attracted.

The 14,988-square-foot pharmacy is among downtown’s largest retail stores, adding 20,000 consumable items to the area’s shopping inventory.

LA council determines outcome of day labor lawsuit

Attorneys representing a group of local day laborers suing the city of Los Altos expected to reach a settlement Tuesday after the Town Crier’s press deadline.

Attorney J.C. Flores said negotiators from both sides had agreed to an out-of-court settlement last week and were waiting for the Los Altos City Council’s final approval.

Golf course reopening planned for October

After seven months without an operational golf course, the Los Altos Golf & Country Club is expected to reopen its fairways in October on completion of a major renovation project that will replace the course’s aged and ravaged underground drainage system, as well as add a few new features.

The $7.2 million makeover began in April in response to storm overflows that had been flooding the course over the past six years due to overgrown roots that clogged the drainpipes.

Los Altos presented with ‘City of the Year’ honors

Los Altos’ Mayberry image as the all-American town earned it top honors in Sacramento this summer. The 40/8, a select group of the American Legion, recognized Los Altos as “City of the Year” for the state of California at a state convention July 19 for its public display of patriotism and support of the American Legion. This is the first time Los Altos has qualified for such a distinction.

“It’s a great honor,” said Bill Goss, a Korean War veteran and member of American Legion Post 558 and of the 40/8.

LETTERS OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2003

ridiculously costly

School days, pre-women’s lib

Despite my children’s firm conviction that I was a contemporary of Abraham Lincoln, who trudged dirt roads and wooden sidewalks to arrive at a one-room schoolhouse with wooden benches and isinglass windows, presided over by a trapped spinster, I cherish a treasure chest of memories of my “golden rule days” and teachers who made a difference.

In grade school there was Miss Koch with the neat bob, trim figure and encouraging smile. From the moment she read “The Courtin,”a lyric poem of a handsome swain and the gingham-clad miss he yearned for through Sunday sermons when he obsessed over her “new meetin’ bonnet,” and the pretty face it framed, I was hooked.

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 SEPTEMBER 3

after spending four years flying with the US Navy in WWII, Oscar found himself doing what he liked best, flying for Pacific Airlines, a small intrastate airline on the west coast. On July 31, 1961, Captain Cleal, his DC3 and passengers were on the ground at the Chico, CA airport when a gunman forced his way in, attempted a hijacking and demanded to be flown to Arkansas. Before the intruder was subdued, he had shot the station agent in the hip and shot Captain Cleal in the head, blinding him forever. He was 42 at the time.

In the hope that this could not happen again, Captain Cleal was one of the first to counsel congressional committees, law-enforcement agencies, and the Airline Pilots Assn. with urgent recommendations for bulletproofing cockpits, keeping cockpit doors locked and installing the doors with peepholes; teaching the pilots judo and furnishing them with handcuffs to restrain violent passengers - AND arming the pilots.

Police chief shadows Armstrong at Tour de France

Los Altos Police Chief Don Johnson shared a taste of Tour de France cycling and French food Aug. 14 with the El Camino YMCA’s “Gentle Cycle” class.

Larry Thomson, an Older Adult Program instructor, led about 20 individuals in his morning cycling class, while they listened to a presentation by Johnson, who cycled alongside the Tour de France riders in July.

Westwind Barn to hold ‘Hoedown’ Saturday

“Hoedown,” Westwind Barn’s annual fund-raising event, is scheduled Sept. 6 at 27210 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills.

The community is invited to this 26th annual fund-raiser, an evening of entertainment, food and a silent auction. Items at the silent auction include designer furniture, floral arrangements, decorator baskets and numerous other goods and services donated by Los Altos merchants and friends of Westwind.

Veterinarians raising funds for animal disaster relief

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) has scheduled “Bone App/tit,” 6:30 p.m., Friday, at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club.

AVMF Co-chairmen R.L. Collinson, owner of Alpine Animal Hospital in Los Altos, and Thomas Mack, owner of Bayshore Animal Hospital in San Mateo, said the benefit will celebrate vets helping pets in times of disaster.

FHDA Chancellor Martha Kanter keeps her door open to everyone

Martha Kanter, the new chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, felt right at home when she spoke to the Los Altos Rotary Club last Thursday. Not only is she a friendly Rotarian, but she has a style of openness and accessibility as chancellor of the third largest community college district in the state.

“The role of chancellor is to represent everyone, and this can only be done through collaboration,” Kanter said. “I seek to infuse a spirit of openness and collegiality in the six cities in our district.”

Local high school students continue to perform well on AP exams

This spring, students at both Los Altos and Mountain View high schools took Advanced Placement exams, hoping efforts in up to 22 different subjects in Advanced Placement (AP) classes pay off.

The Advanced Placement program, sponsored by the College Board, consists of 31 different courses and completion exams for high school students, but using college-level coursework.

Medical costs rise 21 percent in Foothill-De Anza 2003-04 budget

The decline of the California economy, along with sharp rises in medical benefits and retirement contributions, have created a challenge to balance the 2003-04 budget adopted for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

“The budget gap has caused some extraordinary actions to be initiated within the district, including a planned reduction to the general fund expenses of over $10 million,” said Vice Chancellor Mike Brandy. “It should be noted that our budget deficit is caused by falling state revenues as well as our rising expenses.”

Catching on

hil Ghilarducci had a reputation to live up to entering the 29th annual Santa Clara Valley High School All-Star football game on July 23. He proceeded to live beyond it.

Known as an offensive force that would take two defenders to stop, the wide receiver from Gunn High — playing for the North — turned a variety of defensive schemes by the South into train wrecks. Ten catches, 197 yards and one touchdown later, he laid waste to any notion that he could be stopped by double-teaming.

Gysin going into San Jose Sports Hall of Fame

When Jessica Gysin first learned she was going to be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, she thought there might have been a mix up.

“When my athletic director Mr. (Tim) Houlihan called to tell me, I was confused at first,” the St. Francis High volleyball star said. “I thought the whole thing was only for pro athletes.”

Los Altos interior designers getting ready for first ASID showcase in 6 years

Los Altos interior designers are adding their creative touches to a masterful new Atherton home, the subject of a resurrected designer showcase event from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

The event, scheduled for Sept. 11 to Oct. 5, benefits the Peninsula and East Bay chapters of Habitat for Humanity and the educational and community service efforts of the ASID California Peninsula Chapter.

LAVA promotion to offer a ‘taste’ of downtown

Organizers of the first Taste of Los Altos Village, scheduled 5-8 p.m. Sept. 14, plans to offer a tantalizing sampling of the downtown cuisine.

Twenty-six Los Altos restaurants and merchants will provide outside selections while continuing their service inside.

An Orange transformation

With its old trees, sidewalks, alleys and standout houses, the University district of Los Altos is more popular than ever. This pedestrian-friendly neighborhood west of downtown was the first to be settled. Some of its oldest homes date back to 1908.

Joe and Patty LoConte bought one of those old homes on Orange Avenue, tore it down to the footprint and built it anew.

Trading places

Those looking to cut vacation costs in a down economy have come up with a new trend in travel - their homes.

Although swapping homes has been going on for decades, expense-minded voyagers are opting for trading places in increasing numbers. The emergence of the Internet has sparked this trend, creating a clearing house for thousands of swappers who have put security and anxiety issues aside for a rent-free vacation.

Los Altos designers contribute to a classic

Three Los Altos-based interior designers will demonstrate their artistic flair during the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Designer Showcase, Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 11 through Oct. 5.

This year’s California Peninsula Chapter and Creative Habitat’s Designer Showcase features a 13,000-square-foot Tudor-style estate home in Atherton.

Going solar

Los Altos resident Mark Byington thinks he’s got the home energy system that’s too good to be true — except that it is true.

His photovoltaic system, which generates electrical power from the sun, pays immediate financial dividends for the user, while preserving the environment. Byington estimates current government rebates pay 40 percent to 50 percent of the system cost (between $20,000 and $40,000, depending on the size). The system pays for itself after about five and a half years, Byington said, essentially generating free electricity after that.

Off-road vs. crossover

Sport-utility vehicles now dominate most parking lots, so it’s not surprising that manufacturers have started to create new car models to segment this market. The newest trend is the “crossover” vehicle.

Last week we had the opportunity to drive the new Nissan Murano, a good example of this product and a vehicle that Nissan calls “the urban SUV.” To provide contrast, we considered our experience with the new 2003 Ford Explorer that now occupies a space in our own garage.