Traffic calming or confusion?

Los Altos motorists will experience the city’s first significant street improvements intended to calm traffic in town at the end of next month, when engineers complete the Loyola Safe Routes to School project along Berry Avenue. The completed project will introduce physical elements - including raised crosswalks, 10-foot-wide sidewalks, bulbout curbs and crosswalk medians - to streets in the Loyola School neighborhood, near Rancho Shopping Center.

Supporters of the street redesign have no sympathy for motorists aggravated by features forcing them to maneuver the narrowed roadway at slower speeds. They say that’s the point - to drop speeds to the posted 25 mph speed limit. Some residents have complained of motorists going nearly twice that speed before the improvements were made.

LASD trustees offer Egan camp to charter school

Los Altos School District trustees voted 4-1 Monday night to make a preliminary offer under Proposition 39 of the camp school at Egan Junior High School to Bullis Charter School for the 2004-05 academic year. The vote came after almost two and a half hours of discussion; Jay Thomas cast the sole vote against the motion.

All trustees spoke in favor of continuing negotiations with the charter group. “The ball is now in their court, and I am sure that they will be serving it back to us,” said board president Victor Reid.

El Camino Hospital continues cost-effective management

Month after month El Camino Hospital posts record surplus accounts along with a higher net operating margin. The excess is allocated to the rebuilding project.

Since July 1, operating revenue from operations has resulted in $23.9 million net income with a net margin of 14.3 percent. Budgeted income for the period was $20.2 million. The net operating margin is higher than most other Peninsula hospitals because ECH carries no debt or related interest expense.

It’s Ruskin vs. Poizner as Simitian successor for Assembly

Redwood City Councilman Ira Ruskin won a close race in the March 2 primary over John Carcione in the battle for the Democratic Party’s representative for the 21st Assembly District seat, currently held by Joe Simitian. Simitian will run for the 11th District seat in the state Senate in the General Election.

The vote count between Ruskin and Carcione, of Menlo Park, was so close Carcione refrained from conceding the election until three days later, March 5. The district, which includes Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, stretches from San Carlos to San Jose. Los Altos-Los Altos Hills voters make up approximately 35,000 of the 238,349 voters in the district.

Temporary trailers slated for city offices while town hall is under construction

The Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Toeniskoetter & Breeding Inc. by which TBI will act as construction manager for the town hall project for approximately $50,000 less than the original contract. Councilman Breene Kerr reported that the California Energy Commission has approved the town’s Green Energy Program for a low-interest Energy Efficiency Financing Program loan of $160,000.

The council unanimously approved conditional use and site development permits for the new town hall after agreeing to hold the town to the same standards for amplified noise as regular residents. The council also agreed to locate office trailers onsite during the construction of the new town hall, away from residences, and to remove them within 30 days of the final inspection of the new building.

Los Altos police continue search for ’skateboard strangler’

A senior citizen allegedly choked a 12-year-old boy skateboarding on the roof of a business complex in downtown Los Altos, according to the Los Altos Police.

The boy and four of his friends were skateboarding at around 3:51 p.m., March 5, in the exterior corridor of the first-story rooftop of the building at 343 Second St. when an unknown man approached them, said Sgt. John Hughmanick. The man blocked the boy’s path and grabbed him by the throat so tightly that the boy had difficulty breathing and sustained a minor laceration. The scratch possibly resulted from a piece of jewelry worn by the suspect or from a fingernail, Hughmanick said.

Council prepares ‘backup plan’ for pathway grant

The Los Altos City Council last week agreed to look at a backup plan in another portion of town to use the $434,000 grant earmarked for Hetch Hetchy pathway improvements rather than risk losing the money should the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority reject project changes that neighbors are demanding.

The project currently includes improving a one-third mile stretch of the San Francisco Water Department’s Hetch Hetchy right-of-way from Los Altos Avenue through Via Del Poso and Mercedes Court to El Camino Real near the former El Torito building. Residents along the pathway have said they will try to stop the city from opening their neighborhood to the El Camino corridor, which they say is the city’s worst crime spot.

Pathway may conflict with water district’s upgrades

The San Francisco Water District’s plan to upgrade its system could mean digging up underground pipes along the Hetch Hetchy right-of-way in Los Altos where city officials are considering installing a $500,000 pathway over the next year and applying for a $485,000 grant to replace a decaying pedestrian bridge in 2008.

Improvements on the right-of-way could be ripped out over the next 10 years to upgrade the existing pipes, Mayor John Moss said.

It’s not about the facility, right?

The fight to reclaim Bullis is clearly brought out in full-page newspaper ads and any and all discussions by Bullis Charter School proponents as they proceed with the establishment of their school. They seem to be bent on Bullis, to the point of confounding the public - and us - with an array of numbers over projected and lost lease income at the Bullis site, and threatening litigation.

Charter proponents have been pushing for the site under Proposition 39, which would allow the school at Bullis rent-free for strictly one year. The charter would have to apply for a location every year. The proposition requires the district provide “reasonably equivalent” facilities to normal district classrooms.

LETTERS OF MARCH 17, 2004

I believe there may be more to the library story than was presented in your article. There seemed to be many people in distress about the parcel tax not passing. However, I understand we have an option to withdraw from the county system, as Mountain View has done, and support our own library.

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 17, 2004

born 22 April, 1913, Chicago, Illinois. Died 10 February, 2004, Los Altos, California. Walter was the son of Walter Paul Winiger and Sophie Kuenne, grocery store proprietors. He grew up in the Lake View District of Chicago and attended Albert G. Lane Technical High School, as did his son, Gary. Walter served his country during WW II in the Army Air Corps and during Korea in the Illinois Air National Guard activated as part of NATO forces. He worked from the age of 17 until retiring at 62 for the Commonwealth Edison Co. in Chicago, starting as an office boy and retired as a manager in the customer services department. He was a long time member of American Legion Post 118 and was a multiple American Legion National Champion with the post’s Senior Drum and Bugle Corps. He was an avid hunter, trap shooter, and fisherman. He was staunchly patriotic and always wore a US flag lapel pin. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Iva, his son Gary, daughter-in-law Catherine and grandson Evan. Submitted by Catherine Vonnegut, daughter-in-law Please let me know the cost and I will mail a check, then you can print in any issue after that. Please also inform me when it is going to be published so I am sure to save copies for my mother-in-law.

Wedding announcements

Send your wedding, engagement or anniversary announcements to Myrna Hayes 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. 300, or e-mail myrnah@latc.com.

Humane Society holds 1st ‘Fur Ball’ fund-raiser

There’s no ball like a “Fur Ball,” especially when animal lovers can gather and be entertained while supporting a worthwhile cause. Humane Society Silicon Valley has scheduled its Fur Ball this Saturday at the future site of its new animal adoption and education center, in Milpitas.

There’s a strong Los Altos-area connection to the Humane Society. Five of the organization’s 12 members of the board of directors are from here.

Sister Cities reception for Kylie Crawford

The student exchange program is sponsored by Los Altos Cities Inc., with the cooperation of the Los Altos-Mountain View High School District. The students have the opportunity to attend classes with the host family student.

The exchange program was started with the proceeds from the sales of the “Paint The Town” books sponsored by the Los Altos Cultural Association, along with the participation of local foundations. Los Altos Sister Cities Inc. is offering students from our local high schools and from our sister cities the opportunity to participate in the student exchange program. Los Altos Sister Cities Inc. will assist or pay for the complete cost of transportation up to $750 for interested students.

Garrison Keillor’s small-town wisdom, humorous stories enliven Celebrity Forum

For the last 25 years, West Coast audiences have heard and read about the strong women, good-looking men and above-average children who populate Lake Wobegan, Minnesota. Last Friday, Garrison Keillor brought his “A Prairie Home Companion” to Flint Center, De Anza College, for the Celebrity Forum speaker series.

Sporting a long red tie and matching sneakers, Keillor kept his audience laughing with his sharp sense of humor, small-town wisdom and quirky stories about growing up.

SV Manufacturing CEO offers good and bad news

Migration into Silicon Valley from the rest of the United States has reversed, and population growth has slowed to pre-boom rates. Those are the observations of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, created in 1978 by David Packard of Hewlett Packard.

Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the organization, offered his annual update on demographics for the business community last Thursday at the Los Altos Rotary Club.

Los Altan named first-ever Invention Quest champion

After six months and more than 8,300 entries, Los Altos inventor Todd Basche’s WordLock has emerged as the next must-have product to make work life easier. Staples held its Invention Quest final judging event March 10, in New York City.

The WordLock is a combination lock that uses easy-to-remember words instead of numbers.

District faces lawsuit from unnamed residents for offering Egan to Bullis

A group of unnamed individuals Friday threatened to sue the Los Altos School District if the district board offered Egan camp school to the Bullis Charter School group at its Monday meeting.

Attorney Alexander T. Henson of Carmel sent a letter to Superintendent Marge Gratiot on behalf of “an unincorporated group of individuals,” stating the intent to sue. Henson said that all members of the group are residents of Los Altos or Los Altos Hills.

Passing of propositions brings relief to Foothill and De Anza community colleges

Foothill-De Anza Community College District Chancellor Martha Kanter breathed a sigh of relief with the passage of Propositions 57 and 58. They provide budget stability and a benchmark to work from. The governor’s budget proposed in January can now move forward without additional cuts.

“While this does not relieve our district’s current budgetary shortfall of $12.7 million, it sets the stage for a more positive vision of long-term growth that provides an opportunity for our students,” Kanter said. “Unfortunately, Foothill-De Anza is below the state average in funding per student, and we are still forced to reduce this year’s budget in order to balance our revenues and expenses.”

Almond nuts over walkabout

From left, Nick Eyre, Andrew Templeton and Paul Dilley have fun with Bob the Dummy, during festivities for Almond School’s annual “walkabout” fund-raiser on March 6. Participants - 85.5 percent of the Almond student body - raised a record $39,000 for the Almond PTA. Almond supporters also are donating a portion of the proceeds to the East Palo Alto Kids Foundation.

Alta Vista claims title in overtime

Just when it looked like a second-half collapse would cost the Alta Vista High boys basketball team the South Bay Big 6 championship, Perett Fiaavae came to the rescue.

The junior calmly drained a three-pointer with two seconds left to force overtime, and the Mountain View continuation school went on to beat Robertson 46-44 in the March 10 final at the El Camino YMCA.

Cookie Café crumbles, Cruz’n Café takes its place

Welcome to a taste of Brazil. The Cruz’n Cafe, which replaces the old Cookie Café, opened its doors two weeks ago with a limited menu and temporary hours as a prelude to its grand opening, scheduled for the coming month.

The crepes may be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner, even for dessert. It all depends on the filling.

‘A man of the people’

Matt Pear believes in getting involved because it’s a good thing to do. From his days at Los Altos High School, where he was an honorable mention All-American football player, to today as he serves as mayor of the city of Mountain View, Pear’s involvement with people has been paramount.

Pear’s family roots in the area go deep, to the time before the Mountain View-Los Altos geographical lines were drawn. Sitting behind the Los Altos History Museum is a tractor used on his grandfather’s farm, along with a Myers sprayer for crops.