Arts groups keep afloat

In a gloomy economy, local performing arts groups have sounded a bright note. Persevering despite funding setbacks, they have sung chorales, staged plays and musicals, taught music to children, paraded down Main Street and grown as artists.

Largely without advertising budgets, development personnel and suitable performance venues, they have made sure the show goes on by deploying armies of volunteers, bringing creativity to fund raising and performing where they can.

Autistic student due new special education plan

The state has ordered Los Altos School District to develop a new individual education plan for the autistic Springer Elementary School student whose parents removed her from her third-grade class in November.

The Special Education Hearing Office ordered the district to provide, each week, four hours of case management and behavior consultation services and one hour of in-home training and support for the parents. The district is to provide these increased services for the rest of this school year and through the 2004-05 school year.

Police stop suicidal woman from plunging onto Foothill Exp. from I-280 overpass

California Highway Patrol snatched a woman as she attempted to plunge to her death last week from the Interstate-280 overpass that crosses over Foothill Expressway in south Los Altos.

The officers spotted the distraught woman stepping over the metal guard railing at 7:40 p.m., March 30. A 20-foot drop separates the overpass from the four-lane expressway.

Police set to negotiate new labor contract

The one-year labor contract that the Los Altos City Council imposed on police last year after both sides reached an impasse is set to expire June 30, which means both groups will be negotiating new terms in upcoming weeks.

The contract in place is one that police overwhelmingly rejected last year during a union vote but the city put on the table as its last and final offer. The city offered the same increases across the board to all departments in an attempt to treat employees fairly during a tight economic year.

Jewish congregation buys YWCA property

A liberal, independent Jewish congregation is scheduled to make its permanent home at the YWCA’s Palo Alto campus on Alma Street this fall. Congregation Etz Chayim purchased the property from YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula for approximately $5.5 million, YWCA officials announced Thursday.

The 9-year-old Palo Alto-based congregation plans to make the property a social, educational and spiritual center for members. The Montessori School of Los Altos, which has operated a preschool at the site since 2001, is working with the congregation to continue the lease under the building’s new ownership.

Young entrepreneurs left with sour taste

Los Altos Hills residents Robyn Stuwe, 10, and her brother Alexander,7, learned their first lesson about conducting business in the Hills last week when they decided to sell lemonade and Calla lilies on the side of the road for 50 cents.

When a sheriff’s deputy pulled in front of their stand on the corner of Fremont and Miranda roads March 20, they quickly discovered that he hadn’t stopped as a customer. He ordered the two entrepreneurs to close down their lemonade stand.

Los Altos study ties up sewer progress in LAH

Sewer problems may continue to create a stink in Los Altos Hills until neighboring Los Altos finishes a study of the sewer system that the city has jurisdiction over both communities, Supervisor Liz Kniss told residents during a joint-study session last week.

The problem, she explained, is that three jurisdictions overlap to provide Los Altos Hills its sanitary sewers. In addition to the county authority, the town conveys sewage to the water quality control plant through the Palo Alto and Los Altos basins. The town has separate usage agreements with both cities, and no direction can be given until Los Altos concludes its study of the sewer system, which it began several years ago.

Vigilant about peace

More than 50 residents gather March 28 at the Community Plaza in downtown Los Altos for a candlelight vigil marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the Iraqi war.

The group proceeded to the main library to view the peace pole that the community group Los Altos Voices of Peace donated to the city last month. The pole dedication is scheduled for May 23.

Fence ordinances corralled for easier handling

At the Los Altos Hills City Council meeting April 1, Assistant Planner Angelica Herrera Olivera presented the collected fence ordinances for their first public reading. The council had directed town staff to gather the many fence ordinances scattered through the larger body of ordinances into one place for easier reference.

The council approved giving the planning director discretionary authority to refer fences that may significantly affect “the aesthetic or rural character of the town or the views from surrounding properties” to the planning commission; allowing the average height of driveway gates to be 6 feet and their maximum height to be 7 feet; prohibiting barbed wire; prohibiting electric perimeter fences (these are still permitted inside property boundaries and for purposes of animal husbandry - Westwind can keep its electric fence around the rose garden); and, with the exception of bare chain-link fences around construction sites, prohibiting chain-link fences that are not coated in dark vinyl.

LETTERS OF APRIL 7, 2004

It is time for the community to move beyond the rancor surrounding Bullis Charter School. This is a school of 150 students out of 4,000 district students. The district has varied from a low of 3,000 students to as high as 6,000 students in the last 30 years. It can clearly accommodate the financial fluctuation caused by losing 150 students.

OBITUARIES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 7, 2004

entered eternal rest on March 30, 2004 at Stanford Hospital with his daughters at his side. Reunited in heaven with Dorothy, his beloved wife of 49 years. He was born on July 1, 1918.

A devoted family man, Jules was a kind and gentle soul. He treated everyone with respect, a fine example to his children and grandchildren. Jules loved all things aviation and recently commented “flying changed my life”. At age 16 he began flying lessons in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho. After receiving his pilot’s license, he flew with friends to Oakland, CA. This grand adventure was ever after referred to as “the trip”. This led Jules to the University of Washington School of Aeronautical Engineering where he received his degree in 1939. Upon graduation, he began his career at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field. WW II Naval Service, stationed at Moffett Field. Post retirement employment with Raman Engineering. Upon retirement, he pursued his hobbies of woodworking, reading, walking and lifelong learning. A bright man, it was a joy to talk with him, share ideas and laugh.

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.

‘Builders’ awarded at 1st Gardner event

Holding back their tears as they expressed gratitude, the recipients of the 11 John W. Gardner Building Community Awards and the John Gardner Award accepted their honors last week. The individuals were selected by non-profits serving the Los Altos community.

The first-time awards event, sponsored by the Los Altos Community Foundation, drew a sellout crowd at the Los Altos Golf & Country Club last Thursday night.

Golf course facelift brings natural beauty to the fore

A year in the making, Los Altos Golf & Country Club’s renovated golf course reopened to rave reviews last Friday. A ribbon-cutting celebration and ceremonial tee off followed on Sunday.

“It’s awesome,” said project manager Tom O’Grady after playing the new course for the first time on Friday. “The greens were extremely fast, but that’s OK. We can slow them down.”

Egan camp LASD’s final offer to charter school

Egan camp school is Los Altos School District’s final offer to Bullis Charter School for next year. Trustees voted unanimously after a minimum of discussion March 29 to make their March 15 offer final.

“This meets our legal obligation to meet our April deadline,” said Victor Reid, president of the board of trustees, to the educators and parents who filled the Covington Road boardroom for the special meeting. The charter school board has several weeks to consider the offer.

Moores Give Bullis Charter School $250,000

Gordon and Betty Moore have donated $250,000 to support the development of Bullis Charter School, charter school spokesman Marlin Miller announced last week. Moore is co-founder and chairman emeritus of Intel Corp., and lived in Los Altos Hills for 35 years.

“Betty and I feel very strongly that competition in educational opportunities results in innovation and significant improvements for all participants,” Moore said. “While it is difficult to get an alternative school started, I am certain it will be successful and achieve a lot.”

Experienced Eagles struggling to succeed

With seven seniors, including six who have played varsity since they were freshmen, this was supposed to be the year the Los Altos High softball team went from solid to sensational.

Head coach Bernie Quintero is still waiting for his Eagles to make that leap, and his patience is wearing thin. While Los Altos remains in the hunt for the SCVAL De Anza Division title and a return trip to the Central Coast Section playoffs, Quintero admits being disappointed with his team’s sluggish start.

Los Altos business expo to be held April 22

The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its business expo 4-7 p.m., April 22, at the Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N. San Antonio Road. All the available booths have already been taken.

“A lot of big city business expos have vanished, and even small cities have dropped their business promotions, but our expo has been highly successful,” said Julie Rose, president of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce. “We are hosting our 16th annual event, and we’re turning away exhibitors.”

Wine-tasting parties focus on fun, education

Longtime wine connoisseur Alan Abrams attended a presentation on cooking materials about three years ago. “My wife said, ‘You know, Alan, this could work for wine.’”

This sparkling idea distilled into Alan’s Wine Cellar, which allows Abrams an opportunity to share his passion for fine wines by giving wine-tasting parties in Los Altos and throughout the Bay Area.

INCH passes 100th car mark in donations to needy

Members of the Interfaith Network for Community Help (INCH) recently donated their 100th car in a program designed to offer vehicles to those in need.

INCH president and Los Altos resident Stewart Wobber said his group is currently working on its 104th car transaction. INCH works in conjunction with several churches and agencies on the Peninsula, has provided vehicles in good condition to needy families over the past three years. The first car came to him via a phone call.