Tough times for libraries

If the number of books borrowed from Los Altos’ public libraries held any budgetary significance, the main and Woodland libraries would be two of the most successful operations in town. They would be open 24 hours, with a full staff and a greater selection of materials.

Apparently, the community is passionate about reading: Los Altos patrons check out more books from the main and Woodland libraries than users in any other city in the Santa Clara County Library system. Annual circulation is more than 1.7 million volumes, or 42.53 books per capita. On any given morning, passers-by are guaranteed to see at least a handful of patrons outside the main library’s entrance waiting for the doors to open. Library officials counted as many as 1,500 patrons in the library over a six-hour period on a recent Sunday.

Serial prowler apprehended last week

The hunt for a serial prowler who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a teen as she slept in her Los Altos home Halloween eve ended Friday afternoon with the arrest of Marco Nava of Mountain View.

Police have linked the 30-year-old busboy to at least five similar incidences in Mountain View and Los Altos.

Egan teacher killed on train tracks

ALos Altos science teacher beloved for his quirky science projects died on the train tracks near Alma Street in Palo Alto Sunday evening.

After visiting with friends, Matt Heroux, a science teacher at Egan Junior High School, was on his way to pick up his three-months pregnant wife from the airport when he was struck by a Caltrain at 7:10 p.m.

Los Altos police accept city’s latest labor contract offer

Los Altos police agreed to the city’s latest labor contract offer Thursday evening with a majority vote. The Los Altos City Council was scheduled to finalize the agreement Tuesday.

Sgt. John Hughmanick, spokesman for the Peace Officers Association, said union members voted “positively on the city’s latest offer.”

Environmental trailblazer leads way to preserve LAH open space

Lois Crozier Hogle, a pioneer in the Peninsula’s environmental movement, continues to find new ways to preserve open space. The 90-year-old activist has proposed setting aside her 11-acre property, Oak Meadow, in Los Altos Hills as a conservation easement to be preserved in perpetuity.

She is the first person to donate property to the city in the form of a conservation easement. Her decision sets a precedent in Los Altos Hills, where high property values are leading to more subdivisions and fewer parcels of undeveloped land.

Phoney fitness trainer bilks LAH resident out of $995

With New Year’s resolutions to lose weight just around the corner, police are warning people not to get caught up in fitness hype and to do their homework before hiring a personal trainer.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is looking for Shon Thompson, whose fictitious business, Champion Trainers, is known to have scammed at least one Los Altos Hills resident.

City in need of vision - put pool center downtown

Los Altos is at a critical crossroads in its development. Over the next two years we will have the opportunity to make critical decisions that will help determine our destiny over the next 10-20 years.

Critical to making these decisions is having a vision for what Los Altos wants to become: Is it a sleepy bedroom community with minimal commercial development? A thriving “city” with a downtown that serves as the hub for economic activity and social life for the community? Something else? We need to support our civic leaders in developing this vision.

Editorial

There are things you can do. Then there are things you shouldn’t do. We’re talking about the proposed ham radio tower in Los Altos Hills, which, at its highest point, would rise 106 feet in the air.

Longtime resident Jim Abraham, a ham radio buff, wants to build it, says he has the right - a federal right - to have one, and doesn’t think his neighbors’ complaints about declining property values and obstructed views of the bay are particularly valid.

December: the month of miracles

Summer is really gone, isn’t it? We hung on to the warm, sunny days as long as we could. We knew they wouldn’t last, but we smiled happily as October and most of November continued to bless us with golden days, roses still in bloom and no need to start the furnaces roaring - not yet.

Suddenly the nights brought us back to reality with rain and dipping temperatures. Reluctantly, I pulled out my winter sweaters and jackets, and my mind jumped with surprise to discover the holiday season had arrived.

Letters to the Editor

Office plans could be waste of tax money
Luis M. Yanez

Regarding the new medical office building planned by El Camino Hospital, this new $17 million, 66,000-square-foot medical building will be a separate facility to be leased to doctors in private practice. This project competes with the plans of Camino Medical Group (CMG) […]

Rich Fischer named TC’s 2004 Los Altan of the Year

The Los Altos Town Crier staff has named Rich Fischer the 2004 Los Altan of the Year.

The superintendent of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District will be honored Jan. 13 during a dinner at the Los Altos Golf & Country Club, to which the public is invited.

Weddings

Laura Morris and Philip Saylor
Laura Morris and Philip Saylor were married Nov. 20 at the Union Presbyterian Church in Los Altos.
The bride is the daughter of Jo Anne and Mark Morris of Los Altos Hills. She graduated from The King’s Academy and received a bachelor’s degree in global studies and Spanish […]

‘Backwards into Battle: A Tail Gunner’s Journey in W.W. II’ recounted at Morning Forum

Speakers about wartime often don’t reveal the very personal side of their experiences - from their childhood to basic training to the shock of the battlefield.

In his talk to the Morning Forum of Los Altos on Dec. 7, speaker Andy Doty discussed his evolution from small-town Hudson Falls, N.Y., during the Depression to service as a B-29 tail gunner over Japan in World War II.

Red Cross accepting vehicle donations

The American Red Cross in Palo Alto has initiated a vehicle donation program to generate funds for disaster preparedness and health and safety services in the community.

The Red Cross is accepting contributions of new and used - running or not - automobiles, small pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. A free and convenient pickup will be arranged, and a tax-deductible contribution will benefit the donor as well as the Red Cross. To donate a vehicle, call 688-0415.

Calendar

Ongoing
Los Altos Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, 97 Hillview Ave.
Today
Los Altos Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission, 7 p.m., city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
Thursday
Los Altos Hills City Council, 6 p.m., town hall, 25890 Fremont Road.
Los Altos Planning Commission, 7 […]

Pet of the Week

Palo Alto Animal Services is sadly overcrowded with healthy, friendly rabbits in need of new homes. The shelter has a variety of colors, sizes and personalitites to choose from. Residents are encouraged to hop over to Palo Alto Animal Services, 3281 E. Bayshore Road, or call 496-5971.

Community Briefs

Hidden Villa accepting car donations
Hidden Villa is accepting car donations. All proceeds provide scholarships for summer camp and the Hidden Villa Environmental Education programs for K-6 grade classes.
For more information, call Shannon McEntee at 949-8659; logon to www.DonationLiaison.org or call (408) 733-1000.
El Camino auxiliary scholarships
El Camino […]

Skoll Foundation awards $3 million to non-profits, including MV arts school

The Skoll Foundation announced Dec. 9 the recipients of Skoll Awards for Innovation in Silicon Valley (SAISV). Thirteen Silicon Valley-based non-profit organizations will receive $3.17 million over the next two years to advance systemic change in the region through social innovation.

Los Altos Hills resident Jeff Skoll, the first employee and president of eBay, created the foundation in 1999. Skoll awards are made annually to organizations which demonstrate exceptional creativity, sustained commitment and a clear record of accomplishment in addressing Silicon Valley’s most significant challenges. In addition, each award recipient is eligible for up to $40,000 per year in capacity-building support from the Skoll Foundation.

Los Altos proclamation brought to Taiwan

Los Altos Sister Cities Board member, Barbara Roark, second from right in bottom row, recently presented a proclamation from Los Altos Mayor John Moss to the District Director of Shilin, Taiwan, one of Los Altos’ sister cities. Feted with traditional Asian hospitality, Roark was the guest of honor at the final evening of the Golden Rain Tree Festival.

Sister Cities has scheduled their annual open house meeting 6 p.m., Jan. 27, at the Garden House in Shoup Park. For reservations, call Lee Lynch, 961-0394.

Los Altos brings back New Year’s Day ‘Fun Run’

Run, walk and roll into 2005 to give the year a healthy and fun start. The Los Altos Recreation Department invites families, friends and neighbors to the 2005 New Year’s Day 5k Fun Run, Walk and Roll.

This noncompetitive, free event begins at 9 a.m., Jan. 1, at the Community Plaza, on the corner of State and Main streets in downtown Los Altos.

County advises merchants to watch for bad checks

The holiday season is the time merchants look forward to a big increase in business. The downside of the season is the increase in the number of bad checks passed to unsuspecting cashiers.

It is important for merchants and their employees to know what to look for when accepting a check. Establish a routine acceptance policy for all check transactions.

Holiday Briefs

Horse-and-buggy rides downtown
The Los Altos Village Association offers horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown, Friday through Sunday.
Rides will be available 5-9 p.m., Friday, and 4-8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. To schedule a ride, call 949-5282.
Los Altos Kiwanis Christmas tree sales
The Los Altos Kiwanis Club’s 17th annual Christmas […]

Holiday Fund totals up $22,000 in one week

The Los Altos Town Crier Holiday Fund marks its fifth year a fund-raising goal of $120,000 for the area non-profit organizations whose work directly benefits the needy.

As of Monday, approximately $87,000 has been raised. This represents an increase of $22,000 over the previous week. The fund raised $108,000 last year.

History museum offers holiday-themed exhibition with children in mind

The Los Altos History Museum presents its holiday exhibit, “Through the Eyes of a Child: Winter Holidays,” through Jan. 2.

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

Cupertino teacher’s lawsuit draws national TV, crowd to Flint Center

Stephen J. Williams, the fifth-grade teacher suing the Cupertino Union School District, alleging that his principal’s insistence on reviewing his lesson plans is an infringement of his First Amendment rights, said last week that he just wants to teach accurately.

Asked what outcome he hoped for from the lawsuit, Williams said, “I don’t want any money out of this, just that the district would acknowledge the error in their policy that they have placed over me, and they would let me just teach history accurately.”

Blach French students bring café life to school

Last week, as they do every year, Gail Wade’s seventh-graders created a French Quarter in her classroom at Blach Intermediate School. On Thursday the room was filled with tourists, from 3-year-old Sam to a Jean-Luc Picard look-alike.

Wade at the door with her jaunty “Bonjour!” handed each visitor 10 “euros” to spend in the cafes. Fortunately for those whose French is limited to “Parlez-vous anglais?” interpreters hastened to help them purchase their crêpes with whipped cream, croissants and cookies. There was not a madeleine in sight, but no one lost time fretting over that.

‘She went about as far as she could go’

Fox News took control of The Flint Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 8 for a live broadcast of Sean Hannity’s and Alan Colmes’ interview with Stephen J. Williams, the Stevens Creek Elementary School teacher at the center of the current separation-of-church-and-state dust-up. Soon after the event was announced, the Fox News Web site stated that all tickets had been “given away.” At Flint Center, the doors that opened at

5 p.m. were ordered closed half an hour later. Members of non-Fox media were turned away.

Foothill College faculty member suggests committee for Measure E construction

Speaking on a subject not on the Foothill-De Anza Community College District board meeting agenda Dec. 6, faculty member Ken Horowitz asked the board to appoint an independent advisory committee for Measure E construction.

“Recent developments such as projects coming in overbid, being delayed or taking longer to complete, and poor communications to the community should require a citizen committee consisting of experts on construction matters to advise the board on these conditions,” Horowitz said. “There hasn’t been an entry on the Measure E Web site since May 31.”

Sandy Hay elected to Foothill-De Anza board presidency

It’s been a tradition since 1957 that when the Foothill-De Anza Community College District has its annual organization meeting, which includes the election of officers for the following year, fruitcake is served.

The only tradition known to have endured from the formation of the district is called “fruitcake refreshment.” One of the district’s first trustees, Mary S. Levine, started it.

Citizen Radar guns for Almond speeders

Almond Elementary School parent volunteers Pierre Pasturel and John Arledge will put Los Altos Police Officer Brent Butler’s Citizen Radar program into operation on Almond Avenue at 8:30 a.m., Thursday.

Pasturel and Arledge will be the two men in bright vests beside the “Citizen Radar in use” sign. Their task is to record the license plate numbers of vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit of 25 mph.

Covington shows concern for America

Students at Covington Elementary School sold Latin American crafts from Concern America at lunch time and after school every day last week. Doing all the work themselves, from setting up to cleaning up, the children raised $1,400 for the communities of the artisans who made the crafts - and the coffee growers who produced the shade-grown coffee beans. Funds will be used for feeding centers for mothers and children, one-room schoolhouses and community infrastructure, such as sewage systems. Student council officers wrote and presented a speech, urging students and parents in their school’s “friendly, supportive, happy community” to “think globally and act locally.” From left, student council President Chris Beyer, Vice President Danny Giacomini, Treasurer Caitlin Stanley and Secretary Nicole Andrews led the student service project with the aid of many other students. From right rear, Chloe Langston, Ali Nesmith and Nikki Kashani pause a moment from shopping. Fourth-grade teacher Lori Loftus and sixth-grade teacher Suzanne Chandler, not shown, advise the student council.

Schools Brief

Egan offers campus tours
Egan Junior High School has scheduled campus tours 9:30-10:30 a.m., Jan. 26 and March 30, and 1:30-2:30 p.m., Jan. 27 and March 31, 2005.
The school is located at 100 W. Portola Ave. For more information, call 917-2200.

Eagles upend Spartans

In their only scheduled meeting of the season, the Los Altos High boys basketball team beat Mountain View 58-51 last Saturday.

The district rivals are in different divisions of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League this year, with Mountain View elevated to the De Anza Division after winning the El Camino Division last season.

IBM sale of personal computers to Chinese firm a forecast of future

My first computer was an IBM PS2. Like many other computer users those days, we bought an IBM because it was at the forefront of computer technology. Other manufacturers were frustrated trying to grasp some of Big Blue’s business.

Last week IBM sold its personal computer business to Lenovo, a Chinese company. Several years ago Lenovo was distributing cut-rate IBM clones, and now it will compete with Dell and Hewlett-Packard as a “commodity product.”

BK Collections offers unique Christmas selection

It takes only a quick glance at BK Collections’ window display to recognize the holiday season is here.

Whimsical Christmas Krinkles by Patience Brewster beckon with their signature sweet faces and dangling thin arms and legs. Look closer and you may see a traditional Steinbach Nutcracker from Germany.

Lightening the load

Los Altos chiropractor Dr. Rachel Frozenfar is well aware of the problems caused by heavy backpacks. She said approximately 85 percent of her adolescent patients have back problems directly related to carrying them.

Despite increasing awareness of the problem and introduction of legislation, Frozenfar doesn’t see the problem lessening. “I see it getting worse,” she said, noting the load was much lighter when she was a student. “We had lockers, and we didn’t have to carry so many books,” Frozenfar said. “Kids are so inundated with homework and projects, they need their reference books.”

Creating meaningful traditions for holidays builds confidence

This month’s column will be like the season - merry for most, but sad for some.

Q: Every year I look for new ideas for our Christmas traditions. Do you have any different or special ideas?

Future Brain Cancer Institute celebrates productive first year

Los Altos Hills residents Meredith Warshaw and daughter Elizabet Warshaw-Vickery show no signs of losing their frenetic momentum a year into forming the non-profit Future Brain Cancer Institute.

The institute, operating out of the old Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce building at 325-B Forest Ave., held a gala celebration Dec. 2 at Borel Private Bank and Trust in Palo Alto to acknowledge the achievements of the past year and look forward to accomplishing new goals.

Drink responsibly this holiday season

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of family and celebration. Unfortunately, it is also a season for overindulgence in alcoholic beverages. Drinking excessively can lead to many problems - including injuries or fatalities from drinking and driving, numerous long-term health problems, and ruining family gatherings.

Some people drink more during the holidays because they are in a celebratory mood, while others drink to cope with the stress of the season, such as family members not getting along or failed expectations of the holidays.

ECH medical office building passed despite opposition

With protests from the floor and two directors excused because of a conflict of interest, the El Camino Hospital Board of Directors passed a medical office building and parking structure project with a 3-0 vote last Thursday.

The three-story, 66,930-square-foot building will be constructed on the site occupied by the La Casa Real apartments, and the parking structure will be constructed on an existing parking surface. The area is adjacent to St. Francis High School and Cuesta Park.

‘Runner’s Foot’ offers advice on how to ease aches and pains

Aching feet are a source of complaint for many of us: We expect our feet to get us where we need to go and often abuse them in the process. Runners, in particular, subject their feet to a pounding that leads to a high rate of pain and injury.

A new video, “The Runner’s Foot: Common Foot Injuries, Diagnosis and Treatment,” features Dr. James Ratcliff, a podiatrist at the Menlo Medical Clinic and an avid runner himself, speaking about common injuries and ailments that challenge those who run for sport and fitness. Ratcliff also discusses treatment options and answers audience questions.

Survey finds COPD symptoms affect most smokers

Even though Kimo Murray had been smoking for nearly 50 years, when he started getting short of breath walking to the bus stop, it never dawned on him smoking was the cause or that he might have lung disease. He’s not alone, according to a national independent survey conducted on behalf of the American Lung Association and ALTANA Pharma US.

Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of smokers are not concerned about developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the United States’ fourth-leading cause of death, even though more than half of them (55 percent) experience at least one of the symptoms of COPD a minimum of once a week.

Smart stroke strategies: the three R’s

Each year in the United States, about 700,000 people suffer from stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death nationwide, killing approximately 160,000 individuals annually. Stroke is also a major cause of disability, affecting about 70 out of every 1,000 adults over 65 years of age. Because baby boomers - individuals born between 1946 and 1964 - are aging and will becoming increasingly susceptible to stroke, the number of individuals suffering in future years is likely to rise significantly.

Below are three key strategies for preventing and responding to stroke, called the three R’s.

‘Going Nucular’ a fascinating jaunt through the language of politics and American culture

My dad tormented the editors at his local paper, the Akron Beacon Journal, which he read with red pen in hand. He circled spelling mistakes and grammatical and usage errors before clipping the offending columns and returning them with pithy letters about how it took someone for whom English was a second language to copy-edit their text. The paper had the last word, though - there was a typo in his obituary.

My dad was unyielding in his belief that how a person wielded language said a lot about education, intelligence and class. The truth, as explained by linguist Geoffrey Nunberg in his collection of essays “Going Nucular: Language, Politics, and Culture in Controversial Times” (Public Affairs, 2004), is more nuanced.

Stanford acquires renowned photojournalist’s archive

Stanford University Libraries has acquired the complete archive of award-winning photographer Douglas Menuez.

The archive includes Menuez’s editorial photojournalism and fine art documentary work, as well as recent advertising projects. Included in the archive are more than 250,000 negatives documenting the rise of Silicon Valley.

Obituary Notices

BERNARD “BEN” WAMBSGANSS
Bernard “Ben” Wambsganss passed away at age 90 on November 26, 2004 after suffering a stroke. Raised in Buffalo, NY, he graduated from Buffalo State University and began teaching industrial arts on Long Island. Soon Ben joined the Naval Reserves and immediately was called to active duty to serve aboard […]

Datebook

THEATER

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Shakespeare’s comedy about a misruled kingdom. Pear Avenue Theatre. 8 p.m., Wednesday- Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. 1220 Pear Ave., Unit K. $10-$20. 254-1148; www.thepear.org.