Festival of Lights shines on

The 27th annual Festival of Lights Parade kicked off the holiday season in downtown Los Altos Sunday. Bundled up in winter jackets and heavy blankets, attendees of all ages staked out seating along State and Main streets. Competition for a front-row view was steep, and some parade-goers arrived at dawn to claim a spot by setting up folding chairs along the sidewalks.

The event, which drew approximately 20,000 people according to Nancy Schneider, the president of the Los Altos Festival of Lights Association, is one of the highlights of the year in downtown Los Altos. The parade featured about 60 entries, including local school bands, community service organizations and clubs, dance groups and floats sponsored by local businesses.

Casas named new mayor as council reviews year

Last week’s Los Altos City Council meeting struck a joyous and festive tone as David Casas was sworn in as the city’s 34th mayor.

Casas, likely Los Altos’ first mayor of Hispanic descent, took over the mayoral reins Nov. 23 from John Moss. In Los Altos, councilmembers are elected to four-year terms, with each taking a one-year term as mayor. Councilman Ron Packard was sworn in as the city’s new mayor pro-tem, meaning he would be next in line for mayor.

City law changes prompt Boy Scouts to drop holiday fundraiser

They arrive at the door every holiday season - with brown uniforms, order forms and a smile. For some Los Altos residents, the sight of Boy Scouts selling wreaths has become part of their holiday routine. That tradition, however, has come to an end this year partly because of a new city law that would have gotten Scouts into legal trouble unless they changed their sales strategy.

Selling the $20 wreaths door-to-door without a security background check and city-issued business permit has become illegal in Los Altos under tougher restrictions placed on solicitors last April following a string of crimes allegedly linked to a group of magazine salesmen.

Hospital brings in new anesthesiologists under contentious circumstances

El Camino Hospital’s abrupt turnover in its anesthesiologists last week had hospital officials and doctors pointing fingers at each other over which group is putting profit over patient care.

Officials at the Mountain View hospital said the 19-member group ushered out of the hospital Nov. 22 had refused to accept hospital contracts with insurance carriers whose reimbursements they deemed were too low. Hospital spokeswoman Judy Twitchell said group members were charging patients separately to meet their fees, which she said are higher than others in the area.

News Briefs

Mountain lion sighted near Interstate 280
A probable mountain lion sighting occurred Nov. 23 in a Los Altos neighborhood near Interstate 280. The neighborhood abuts Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve.
At approximately 8:45 a.m., an area resident was walking her dog in a ravine near the intersection of Stonehaven and Lockhaven drives […]

LA council decides future of Rosita pool

The Los Altos City Council Tuesday night was scheduled to decide the outcome of the pool complex planned for the Rosita neighborhood, after the Town Crier’s press deadline.

If the council determined that the court-ordered Environmental Impact Report sufficiently evaluated potential environmental problems raised by the public in the draft EIR, the report would become certified. This would enable the council to decide whether to move forward on the project, reject a pool at the site, or modify plans.

LAH and Comcast reach franchise agreement

For most residents of Silicon Valley, having access to cable and high-speed Internet is a way of life. But for some residents of Los Altos Hills, one of the most affluent cities in the Bay Area, those technologies are luxuries they have lived without for years.

After more than a year spent in contract negotiations, the Los Altos Hills City Council approved a new franchise agreement, Nov. 18, between the city and the cable and high-speed Internet provider Comcast that will bring that technology to residents.

LAH radio tower back up to 106 feet

The ham radio tower proposed by a Los Altos Hills resident that was reduced to 40 feet by the city’s planning commission is now back up to 106 feet, raising alarm among neighbors who say the tower will compromise not only their views but also the value of their homes.

Los Altos Hills City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing about the proposed tower Thursday.

Editorial

Last week’s Los Altos City Council meeting burst at the seams with optimism as councilmembers congratulated one another for good work and cooperation over the past year.

There was some just cause for celebration here. John Moss completed a one-year mayoral term that witnessed noticeable progress in the beautification, promotion and development of strategies for the downtown area. He presided over the formation of a Downtown Revitalization Task Force that came up with some strong recommendations to act as a compass for the years ahead. While all this has yet to translate to tangible improvements in downtown sales, it’s a start.

Letters to the Editor

Tower threatens residents’ views
Jim and Leisa Waschura
Adler and Anna Yu
Joan Corley
Jim and Anais Liu
Chung Ho
Larry and Lynn Weiland
The beautiful views in Los Altos Hills are at risk of being appallingly harmed by a single resident who believes his right to erect a huge amateur radio antenna in front of his neighbors’ […]

Gerard Angé, friend and benefactor

A geriatric specialist warned a healthy patient, “You’re going to go to many funerals.”

I recalled that somber prediction recently when our friend, Gerard Angé, left us. Gerry, who was 85, led a mostly happy life. Like author Rafael Sabatini’s “Scaramouche,” “he was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.”

Weddings & Engagements

Katherine Smith and David Krivan
Katherine Smith and David Krivan were married June 26 at St. Virgil Church in Morris Plains, N.J.
The bride is the daughter of Irene and George Smith of Morris Plains.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J., and a doctor of chiropractic degree from […]

Noteworthies

Los Altos artists Jeri Goodman, creator of radiant, fused glass trays and platters cut from sheets of hand-rolled glass, and Remy Pessah, designer of clothing and hand-painted silks, were featured in “Celebration of Craftswomen,” held Nov. 20-21 and 27-28 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

For information, call (415) 383-3470 or logon to www.teamproevent.com.

World AIDS Day brings to light impact of Rotary’s renowned ‘Los Altos Story’

Today is World AIDS Awareness Day, a reminder that HIV is still very much with us. Organizations working to fight the pandemic are staging events to bring the global health crisis to the attention of more people.

Locally, the Rotary Club of Los Altos, which undertook the task of raising community awareness of AIDS 15 years ago, plans to present a special AIDS program at its meeting tomorrow. Also tomorrow, one of the club’s most meaningful and productive efforts, “The Los Altos Story,” will be broadcast at 4 p.m. on KMVT, Channel 6.

Global AIDS picture darkens

The 2004 United Nations report on the AIDS pandemic is a paint-by-number landscape on a global canvas made of material gathered at the end of last year. Some bright tints appear in the West, but massed dusky hues draw the eye to the East and Africa.

AIDS killed 20 million adults and children worldwide between 1981 and the end of 2003; nearly 3 million died last year. In 2003, 5 million adults and children became infected with HIV. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates that more than 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV or AIDS. More than 95 percent live in developing countries, where access to treatment is limited.

AIDS statistics

Sub-Saharan Africa
25 million infected
2.2 million dealths in 2003
South, Southeast Asia
6.5 million infected
460,000 deaths in 2003
Western Europe
580,000 infected
6,000 deaths in 2003
North America
1 million infected
160,000 deaths in 2003
Global total
37.8 million infected
2.9 million deaths in 2003

Rotary named outstanding philanthropic organization

The Rotary Club of Los Altos was honored on Nov. 19 as 2004 outstanding philanthropic organization by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Silicon Valley Chapter.

The club was one of eight organizations or individuals honored for philanthropic endeavors as part of the annual National Philanthropy Day celebration, designed to recognize the benefits of philanthropy worldwide. The award was presented at a luncheon at the San Jose Fairmont Hotel with nearly 900 people in attendance.

Area faith communities continue to house CSA’s Alpha Omega homeless shelters

In a unique partnership with local faith communities going on 15 years, the Community Services Agency (CSA) continues to operate the Alpha Omega shelter program for upwardly mobile homeless people.

Applicants must fill out an application, provide references, interview with Director Nancy Noel and demonstrate an intention to improve their circumstances.

Seniors News

Los Altos Senior Center
Services offered at the Los Altos Senior Center include:
• Counsel on Aging, HICAP: Insurance counseling the third Tuesday of every month with Roy Ito. Make appointments through the Senior Center,
• In-Home Repair Service: For minor home repairs. Reserved for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills […]

Beloved police dog Gerry succumbs to kidney disease

Gerry, the former Los Altos police dog that thwarted suspects while charming community members, was euthanized Friday after suffering for several months from a kidney disease.

John Korges, special agent with the Los Altos Police Department, who partnered with the German shepherd for more than five years, said Gerry wasn’t expected to live for more than a few months past his early 2003 retirement, but the care of a loving Korges household apparently sustained him.

Holiday Briefs

Tree-lighting ceremony Friday
The downtown Los Altos tree- lighting ceremony is scheduled 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, at the Community Plaza located at the corner of State and Main streets. The event is sponsored by the Los Altos Village Association.
The Mountain View High School Madrigal Singers and the Pinewood School Choir will perform […]

Calendar

Today
Mountain View Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., city hall, 500 Castro St.
Thursday
Los Altos Hills City Council, 6 p.m., Bullis school site, 25890 Fremont Ave.
Los Altos Planning Commission, 7 p.m., city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
Mountain View-Whisman School District Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m., 750-A San Pierre Way, […]

Pet of the Week

Easy-going Snoopy, a 7-year-old boxer-Australian shepherd mix, is available for adoption at Humane Society Silicon Valley. Snoopy has lived with both young kids and birds in his home. To adopt Snoopy, visit Humane Society Silicon Valley’s Web site at www.hssv.org or call (408) 727-3383.

Free mediation available to resolve local conflicts

The Los Altos Mediation Program (LAMP) provides mediation in local disputes. Mediation is a voluntary settlement process used to resolve conflicts between two or more people in a non-adversarial setting with the aid of a neutral third party. For more information, call 949-5267.

Community Briefs

Community Volunteer Service Awards luncheon
The 22nd Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Community Volunteer Service Awards luncheon is scheduled 12:05 p.m., Friday, at the Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos.
Keynote speakers are King and Ginny Lear.
A joint committee comprising five members from Los Altos and five […]

Museum exhibits holidays ‘Through the Eyes of a Child’

The Los Altos History Museum’s latest exhibit celebrates the holiday season in a display titled “Winter Holidays: Through the Eyes of a Child.”

The exhibit, which opened last Friday, explores the culturally and religiously diverse holidays and festivities of Jewish Hanukkah, Hindu Diwali, Iranian Nowruz, African American Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, and Christmas traditions from Europe, the United States and Mexico.

Hidden Villa receives state WRAP Award for 6th year

The California Integrated Waste Management Board named Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills winner of its 2004 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) for Hidden Villa’s outstanding efforts to reduce waste and protect the environment. WRAP, the state’s leading authority on recycling and waste reduction, recognized the wilderness preserve’s achievements for the sixth time.

“Hidden Villa is so pleased to be recognized as a leader in efforts of waste reduction and sustainable living,” said Beth Ross, executive director. “Our organization has worked diligently to protect precious resources and educate the public on conservation and sustainable building. These are key components of our environmental education programs.”

Home Instead encourages Los Altos residents to ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’

The Los Altos office of Home Instead Senior Care, the world’s largest provider of non-medical home care and companionship for the elderly, has teamed with Senior Services Agencies and local retailers to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season.

“In addition to supplying gifts, “Be a Santa to a Senior” is also designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for seniors who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays,” said Bob Cunningham owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Schola performs Messiah Sing

Schola Cantorum (Music Director, Gregory Wait) will present its ever-popular Messiah Sing at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts. Conducted by Gregory Wait, and with accompaniment by members of Redwood Symphony, this Messiah Sing is an opportunity for everyone to join in Handel’s much loved “Messiah”. This is the oldest Messiah Sing on the peninsula and we even provide music on loan!

Founded in 1964 by Royal Stanton , Schola Cantorum has a distinguished history of music making in the Bay Area, and the 120-plus singers of Schola Cantorum invite you to join them at this festive event - and, at this Messiah Sing, everyone gets to sing the arias.

Immigrant students need hope and help to face challenges in school

“It’s all about hope,” said Brigitte Sarraf, who speaks from experience. The associate superintendent for educational services in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District was explaining why anyone would leave everything behind to start a new life in a strange place.

“It’s all about hope. That’s why (immigrant) families make the journey to the Bay Area. That’s why the parents work two or three jobs each to support their families in this community. That’s what their children need to make the transition from the society they have known to the very different culture here,” she said.

Schools Briefs

Oak School to hold colorful book fair
Oak Elementary School’s “Read, White and Blue” book fair runs through Friday. Book fair hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is being held in the multipurpose room.
Family Shopping Night is today, 6:30-8 p.m. The winner of the coloring contest will be announced […]

Six local robotics teams headed for state contest

The size of the Los Altos FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League, considered the Little League of the FIRST robotics competition, has nearly doubled since last season. It now boasts 17 teams, up from 10 last year.

Six Los Altos teams qualified in last year’s Northern California competition to go to the state competition scheduled for Jan. 8 in San Jose.

MVHS teens hold carnival

Members of the Mountain View High School Leadership class held their first major project, November Fest, a children’s carnival, Nov. 19, at Bubb Elementary School in Mountain View. Students from Oak, Covington and Bubb schools enjoyed food, games, sports, crafts, music and prizes. Mountain View students called the event “a huge success.” Planning and executing the carnival was the leadership class’s first step toward fulfilling its goal to connect high school students with elementary school students. The committee worked hard for two months, and it paid off. The carnival committee consisted of MVHS students Pauline Regala, Jose Serrano, Julianne Jong, Matt Brigham and Kristie Elkins. From back to front, Jared Ng, Jackie Friedberger, Casey Lee and Pauline Regala prepare for a tug of war. “It was a day that I’ll remember for a long time, and the smiles on those kids’ faces will live in my heart forever,” Regala said.

Christ Episcopal Church to launch early childhood curriculum next September

Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos plans to offer an early childhood curriculum for 3- and 4-year-olds next September.

Director Heather McClelland has designed a project-based classroom approach in which students’ ideas and questions will be the primary guide for their work.

Warriors clamp down on Lancers in semifinal

St. Francis High may be tempted to rescind the induction of Eric Scharrenberg into the school’s athletic hall of fame after what he did to his alma mater last Saturday.

As defensive coordinator for Valley Christian, Scharrenberg played a major role in his football team’s 21-0 win over St. Francis in the Central Coast Section Open Division semifinals at San Jose City College.

Lower dollar, higher interest rates not necessarily bad news

The stock market closed the Thanksgiving week little changed, with the major indices up slightly. The market appears to be pausing from a rally that began a week before the election, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average started a 700-point upward move. The Dow was at 9,888 Oct. 26 and peaked at 10,572 Nov. 18. The dollar’s slide continued, fueled by reports of China scaling back U.S. Treasury holdings.

Retail spending kicked off the holiday shopping season with a bang, but there remains some question over whether high traffic will translate into sales increases. Remember that consumer spending represents two-thirds of the economy and the holiday season is very important to retailers. So make sure to get out and do your part! Overall, the stock market has good momentum as it enters the year’s final stretch. There may be some volatility in trading over the next few sessions due to oil price fluctuations and a falling dollar.

George Monaco retiring after 20 years in real estate

Most real estate agents in Los Altos know George Monaco, because at some point during his 20 years in the industry, including 15 years as a manager/broker, they have worked with him. At the end of this month, Monaco plans to retire from the industry.

“Several months ago I asked the owners of Cashin Company to find a replacement for me because I wanted to retire,” said Monaco, who is vice president and manager of the Los Altos office of Cashin Company. “I want to spend some time with the grandchildren and relax at my summer home.”

County assessor’s report: lowest property value increase in decade

The assessed value of property in Santa Clara County at the end of 2003 increased by $4.86 billion, the lowest annual increase in more than a decade. Most of the increase is from residential properties.

Cities with the largest concentration of high-tech companies such as Mountain View and Santa Clara experienced the greatest decline in assessed values, while residential communities such as Los Altos and Los Altos Hills experienced growth of more than 8 percent.

Arthur Gleim wins top jewelers award

Arthur Gleim, the chairman of Palo Alto-based Gleim Jewelers, has received the highest honor from the California Jewelers Association.

Gleim, 88, has been awarded the Robert B. Westover Lifetime Achievement Award, the most coveted honor in the jewelry industry in California. The award was presented to him in a ceremony in Beverly Hills Oct. 15.

Hitch yourself to this wagon

Our most recent test vehicle, the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C240 4Matic luxury wagon, is a great example of one of the major new trends in the global automotive industry.

Until recently, automobile development has been driven by the North American market. From 1950 to about 1995, the desires and purchasing power of United States consumers determined the types of cars that were designed in Europe and Asia, as well as in North America.

When it comes to replacing airbags, make sure to do your homework

There’s much more to airbags than just a bunch of air.

Federal regulations require both driver and front passenger airbags as standard equipment on all passenger cars and light trucks. For enhanced passenger safety, vehicle manufacturers have also been installing airbags that help protect passengers in certain side impact collisions. Even airbags that deploy from the carpet to help protect passengers’ feet have been developed.

Tips for those Tahoe trips

With this year’s early storms, there is already a respectable base of snow in the Sierras, so many families soon will be making the trek up to the mountains for family ski vacations.

Since Bay Area driving doesn’t generally produce the road conditions you might find late on a Friday night in mid-winter as you get above the snow line in the dark, a few tips may be in order.

NIASE offers suggestions for saving gas

Motorists who conserve gasoline may save money, help the environment, extend the life of their vehicle and further the national goal of energy independence.

The experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offer these gas-saving tips:

Mayle lets readers down with novel

Peter Mayle was a London businessman who chucked it all to move to the South of France, specifically to the Luberon region of Provence. There he delighted in the slower pace of life and the gustatory pleasures of divine meals.

Max Skinner, Mayle’s protagonist in his novel, “A Good Year” (Alfred A. Knopf, 2004), is a London businessman who chucks it all to move to the South of France, specifically to the Luberon region of Provence. There he delights in the slower pace of life and the gustatory pleasures of divine meals. After inheriting his uncle’s house and vineyards, Max must decide if he can make a living as a gentleman vintner.

Books Briefs

‘Backroads’ guide cancels appearance
Doug McConnell, host of “Bay Area Backroads,” cancelled his appearance at Main Street Cafe & Books Nov. 30 because of a death in his family. MSCB will reschedule McConnell when he is available.
Children’s programs at the library
Dancers from Western Ballet will perform scenes from […]

Italy overflows with culture, hospitality

Italy, a place to visit in all seasons, is one of the most extraordinary destinations in the world. It overflows with antiquities, art, religion, fashion, unbelievable food, wine and, most important, unforgettable hospitality.

Picture yourself attending an opera at La Scala in Milan, taking cooking classes at a farmhouse in Tuscany or bicycling through charming villages and tasting wine. If the thought of a week luxuriating at a spa appeals to you, Italian spas are among the world’s finest - Abano Terme and Monte Catini in particular. Art and history tours are available in almost every city, while shopping in Rome, Florence and Milan is the ultimate for a true shopper.

Travel Brief

Cruise information session today
All Horizons Travel inc. and the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce are scheduled to hold “Alaska Cruise Night” 6 p.m. today at Main Street Cafe & Books. The event features Crystal Cruises and Rocky Mountaineer rail tours.
Travelers interested in visiting Alaska are encouraged to attend the event, which […]

Obituary Notices

MADELEINE CHARGIN MALOVOS
Madeleine Chargin Malovos of Los Altos passed away on November 21, 2004. She was born in 1912 in San Jose, California. Preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Kenneth Richard Malovos, her sister Frances Chargin Torelli and her sister Geraldine Chargin Caveney. Beloved mother of Gerald Andres […]