Measure D: $148 million to rebuild El Camino

The community’s allegiance to El Camino Hospital will be put to the test next Tuesday when residents will be asked to pay $148 million of a nearly $300 million rebuilding project required to seismically upgrade the main tower.

Measure D, on the Nov. 4 ballot, asks voters in the hospital district to authorize the sale of general obligation bonds that would cost taxpayers $12.90 annually per $100,000 assessed valuation. In other words, homeowner with a $1 million assessed valuation would pay $129 annually.

Woman beaten in Jardin home remains in critical condition

A 78-year-old woman remained in critical condition Monday morning after two burglars allegedly attempted to beat and strangle her to death in her Mountain View home Saturday afternoon.

Mountain View police said the woman appeared to have interrupted the two burglars who somehow gained access into her Jardin Drive home behind Los Altos High School.

LASD schools record top test scores in state for fourth straight year

Despite camping at other schools and breaking in a new instruction superintendent in 2002-2003, local schools have once again captured the No. 1 rankings and surpassed the state’s goal on the Academic Performance Index (API).

The last academic year was the fourth for which the state issued API growth reports and the fourth in which Los Altos School District (LASD) elementary schools exceeded their targets for growth in academic performance. All LASD schools scored higher than 800 on a scale of 1,000 points. Egan and Blach middle schools led state junior highs, taking first and second place, respectively.

Haunted happenings

When tombstones appear on graveless lawns, and strange and frightening power tools echo through the neighborhood; whenever fuses blow when the air is deathly still … that is the time of Halloween at three Mountain View homes, where the occupants are compelled to delve into the dark side and turn their yards into cemeteries, haunted mansions and other displays of terror for the pleasure of frightening the wits out of passers-by.

Ghoulish masterminds Rens Boorsma, Larry Jenkins and Brent Ross have captivated trick-or-treaters with their homemade Halloween displays for about a decade each.

Measure D, good for our health

Despite the still-sluggish economy, we consider the annual $12.90 per $100,000 assessed valuation a relatively small price to pay for the ultimate health insurance. We encourage a yes vote on Measure D.

El Camino is the primary emergency center for district patients from Los Altos to Sunnyvale. This affects every resident, not just those who regularly go to the hospital. Those on Kaiser, with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation or those with no insurance, would go to El Camino for any needed emergency treatment. It is vital that the hospital be supported for this, if for no other reason.

LETTERS OF OCTOBER 29, 2003

not ‘disappeared’

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 29

By Clyde Noel / Town Crier Staff Writer

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 bruceb@latc.com.

Los Altos native plans peace climb to the top of the world

Life takes some of us in unusual, often inspired directions. Such is the case with Lance Trumbull, a 35-year-old man whose path has taken him from a childhood in Los Altos to a relentless quest to climb the highest peak in the world for the cause of peace and understanding.

Trumbull has poured his life savings into the Everest Peace Project. His vision is that climbers of different religious faiths - Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Taoist, Hindu, Confucian and even atheist - reach the summit of Mt. Everest together, meeting the challenge of survival despite their philosophical differences.

The many faces of health-food maven Peggy Boyd

Peggy Boyd of Peggy’s Health Center, at 151 First St., recalled decades of service to the thousands of clients who sing her praises. Her store is celebrating 30 years of operation this year.

But few are aware of Boyd’s colorful past, the number of challenging roles she has played, and her myriad talents. Boyd’s Army nurse mother, who served in France in World War I, was a nutritionist.

LASD board may reopen Bullis next fall

The Los Altos Elementary School District Board of Trustees has begun mulling over the idea of reopening Bullis School in fall 2004.

“We have to look at the thing objectively,” trustee Jay Thomas said. “It’s a financial issue … It is also a site issue. If anyone says this smells like six months ago, it does.”

Preschoolers learn how to evacuate their school safely

Children and teachers at Montecito School at 1468 Grant Road spent two weeks in October learning a simple but vital routine to use in case of emergency.

On the final morning of training, Oct. 21, Officer Ron Verna helped a class of two- and three-year-olds practice taking the handholds on the long rope that their teachers will use to guide them to Marymeade Park on Fremont Ave. - and to make sure they all get there.

Hapless homecoming

It was more than homecoming last Friday afternoon at Mountain View High. It also was the christening of its new synthetic-turf field, completed just in time for its football team’s first true home game of the year.

As its award-winning 204-person marching band finished its number to a rousing ovation by an overflowing home crowd, only a momentous opening kickoff would make the occasion truly special.

Trader Joe’s opens its Los Altos location

Local grocery shoppers whose taste buds jump at the chance to sample exotic foods have a new place to shop.

At 9 a.m. last Thursday, Trader Joe’s opened its doors to become the anchor tenant in the transformed Foothill Crossings Shopping Plaza on Homestead Road.

A haven among the oaks

You’ve heard the expression “They don’t build them like they used to.” That applies especially when homes are built with first-cut redwood.

Ann and Warren Nelson live in such a house just a couple of blocks off San Antonio Road. The house was built in 1916 as a summer place in an apricot orchard called Oakhaven Farms. The home sits amid a group of California live oaks that are more than 180 years old.

Quality with simplicity

Kate Chomko has always been a food addict. It took moving to Belgium and experiencing the “quality food” in Europe to inspire her to pursue her aspiration of becoming a chef.

“I was hooked and ate my way through Europe,” Chomko said. “The fish, fruit and vegetable markets, bread, wine - every day was a feast.”

My favorite varietal is pinot noir

I am often asked what my favorite type of wine is. I used to say red Burgundy. I now add there are many California and Oregon pinot noirs close to being in the same league as Burgundy. If you are confused, Burgundy is a generic term used in the United States; any red wine blend can be in a bottle of Burgundy.

Gallo’s hearty Burgundy was always a good buy; we just didn’t know what was in the bottle. French red Burgundy is made only from the pinot noir grape from the Burgundy region of France. The same pinot noir grape is used in the United States. Out of respect for the Burgundian winemakers and to avoid confusion, we call the wine, pinot noir, as the grapes are not grown in Burgundy.