The power of awareness

When Erika Leonard was assaulted in 1992, the athletic young woman fought her attacker off. If she had known then what she knows now, however, the assault never would have occurred. She was at Los Altos High School in March to ensure that other young women learn the same life-preserving skills she has.

As the assistant director of community education for KidPower TeenPower FullPower International, Leonard teaches people of all ages and conditions to protect themselves from - and avoid - violence and other forms of abuse. The four weeks of classes led at LAHS by Leonard and instructors Ryan Holmes and Joseph Maurer taught students the rudiments of setting and protecting personal boundaries, resolving conflict and fending off assault. But the basic lesson was “pay attention.”

Poll of the Week

Here are the results of last week’s poll:

Concerns remain over Mayfield agreement

Los Altos Hills’ eleventh-hour plea to remove two proposed traffic lights on Arastradero Road from Palo Alto’s Mayfield Agreement failed May 24, with the Palo Alto City Council giving final approval to the agreement. But that doesn’t mean the lights will be immediately installed, if at all, according to Palo Alto officials.

There are opportunities to mitigate traffic without using traffic signals, and although signals are included in the plan’s Environmental Impact Report, they are a last resort, said Judy Kleinberg, Palo Alto’s vice mayor. The lights were required in the EIR under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Los Altos City Council rejects Gay Pride Day resolution

When it comes to sexual orientation, the Los Altos City Council is minding its own business. The council last week rejected a request from a group of local high school students to proclaim June 7 the city’s second annual Gay Pride Day, calling the topic too politically divisive and outside of the council’s jurisdiction.

“The proclamation indirectly asks those who have opinions that homosexuality is wrong to keep quiet, and allow those who consider it correct to be the sole voice,” Councilman Ron Packard said. “Whether it is wrong or not, to silence one side of all public dialogue on this social and religious issue or to discourage an open discussion between parents and children, provides a compelling reason why such a politically charged proclamation is inappropriate under our amended council procedures. We should make it clear that this council does not desire to become entangled in extremely partisan issues that do not directly affect city government.”

Hundreds pay last tribute to LA driver killed May 19

The crowd of mourners that gathered at Foothills Congregational Church to pay tribute to Los Altos resident Taylor Scott Anderson was so large last Thursday that church officials had to open another room where those who could not gain entrance into the main church watched the memorial on a video screen.

Anderson, 22, died May 19 after his car smashed into a telephone pole in Santa Clara.

El Camino pressured for more financial transparency

El Camino Hospital faced two challenges last week in the courtroom and in the community.

The Los Altos-Mountain View area League of Women Voters led a formal request, supported by several prominent area doctors, for the district board of directors to “conduct the business of El Camino Hospital more openly and to share with the public the detailed information about El Camino Hospital’s operations and finances required to maintain the community’s confidence and trust.”

Water district set to approve drought cap

The Purissima Hills Water District is scheduled June 8 to set a formula for determining water usage allocations on customers as part of an emergency drought plan that would only go into effect if the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission declared a water shortage emergency. About two-thirds of Los Altos Hills households are within the water district.

The plan could cut usage to some customers as much as 70 percent if the San Francisco commission declares a 20 percent drought, according to district officials.

Hills grapples with tight budget for upcoming fiscal year following town hall project

Now that the city of Los Altos Hills has completed the largest capital improvement project in its history, its new town hall, the city council needs to focus on building something else - city reserves.

That’s the recommendation Sarah Joiner, the city’s administrative services director, recently gave the city council.

LA council postpones eviction of coach

A city notice sent to the wrong address has temporarily spared 72 girls and their volleyball coach from being ousted from the gym at Rosita Park just weeks before a scheduled eviction date.

If things had gone as planned, Los Altos coach Roger Smith should have been packing his things this month from the city-owned gym that he has maintained and called home for the past 12 years. Smith operates a junior volleyball league for mostly Los Altos girls. The Los Altos City Council ordered his eviction last month, and city staff sent him a notice to be out of the building by July 31.

Editorial

It seems the question of public access at El Camino Hospital isn’t going away with the release of CEO Lee Domanico’s financial information.

If anything, it’s fueled further requests for the public hospital to come clean on other information, from revealing salaries of other key executives to detailing how funds will be allocated for construction of the new hospital tower.

Letters to the editor

Proud of LAHS graduates
E.A. Smith

Many thanks to the city of Los Altos and to the organizations involved in the 50th anniversary celebration of Los Altos High School. It was a well-planned, well-orchestrated and well-attended (1,300-plus) weekend.
As a volunteer participant in the activities, I proudly observed a kind, well-grounded, sensitive, successful […]

A house by the side of the road

My dream house sits on a tree-lined street where Sally Holmes roses grow. My neighbor, Shelley, who elected me surrogate mother when her own parent died, raised three trellises of these magnificent blossoms in her memory.

Until yesterday I never saw a Sally Holmes rose. While I recuperate from a hospital stay Shelley keeps me company, encourages me to “keep up your walking,” and brings me Sally Holmes roses.

Obituary Notices

LAURA McGHIE LAMBOURNE
Laura McGhie Lambourne, a long time resident of the Peninsula and Los Altos passed away May 19, 2005 of natural causes. She was ninety-six years old and predeceased by her husband of fifty-six years Richard W. Lambourne. He died in 1989. She is survived by three children […]

Ina Korek, named among top Los Altans who ‘made a difference’

Ina Korek, an active Los Altos resident whose contributions ranged from television work to music, art and community volunteering, died May 21 after a long battle with cancer. She was 70.

Mrs. Korek, named by the Town Crier among the 10 most influential people in Los Altos between 1977 and 1987, was a longtime volunteer at the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop on Main Street in Los Altos. She was also active in the American Association of University Women.

Carl John Stoscher, loved playing the violin, gardening

Carl John Stoscher, a 34-year resident of Los Altos, died May 4. Mr. Stoscher was 91.

Mr. Stoscher was born in Graz, Austria, May 11, 1913, and came to the United States through Ellis Island at age 13.

Weddings & Engagements

Ilene Michelle Herz and Ray Martin Tumi
Ilene Michelle Herz and Ray Martin Tumi were married Oct. 10, at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills.
Their reception followed at the Palo Alto Hills Country Club.
The bride is the daughter of Judy and Richard Herz of Los Altos.
She received a […]

TC welcomes wedding, engagement, anniversary announcements

Send your wedding and engagement announcements to Leverne Cornelius at the Los Altos Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022. Announcement forms are available by calling Leverne at 948-9000, ext. 300. She can either fax them or e-mail them to you. Photos are welcome. If you want your photo returned, they are available for pickup at the office following publication.

Friend’s shining spirit leads Los Altan to a career in music - and a mission

Los Altos native Brad Wolfe graduated from Los Altos High School in 1998, then enrolled at Stanford University where he earned degrees in American studies, anthropological sciences and organizational behavior. So naturally, Wolfe embarked full bore on a pop music career.

It took the death of friend Sara LaBoskey to bring Wolfe’s two closet hobbies - writing and music - into the forefront of his life’s focus. But Wolfe isn’t content merely to get his music career going. He’s also starting a foundation to fight the rare cancer that killed LaBoskey.

Professor discusses impact of Britain’s political shift at Los Altos library talk Blair’s leadership

The Peninsula Chapter of the World Affairs Council and the Los Altos Library sponsored a talk May 18 by Mark Bevir titled “How will Tony Blair’s New Labour government lead, and will it lean toward the U.S. or Europe?”

Approximately 90 people heard Bevir discuss the shift in political parties in Britain and how the New Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, first came into power in 1997. His remarks included assessments of which way the recently re-elected parliamentary government would direct its interests and the close relationship between Blair and President Bush.

Open space pioneer Mary Davey honored

Los Altos Hills resident Mary Davey, a longtime champion of preserving open space, was honored May 22.

Local politicians, environmental advocates, family and friends joined Davey, former president of the Los Altos-based Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and a former Los Altos Hills councilwoman, to celebrate her 75th birthday at Picchetti Winery in Cupertino.

Bell’s ‘Divas For Life’ to help cancer victims

Local diva Molly Bell had an idea. Bring together some of the Bay Area’s most talented female stage performers for a showcase performance and you’d have a great show - a show that might be a way to raise money for victims of cancer.

Bell put her idea into action and has rounded up 10 of the Bay Area’s best leading ladies and rising stars for the benefit concert, scheduled 7 p.m., June 8, in the Eagle Theater at Los Altos High School. Proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

Horsemen’s group hosts fun-filled fund-raiser

In the early morning light, a line of horse trailers began arriving at the Los Altos Hills Riding Ring on Purissima Road to participate in a “Tack Trade and Playday” hosted by the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association May 22.

The horsemen’s association puts on at least one playday each year to raise funds for its non-profit organization. This year, the day included a tack trade and barbecue lunch. Profits will help cover the cost of the group’s insurance and ongoing efforts to keep the riding ring available for public use.

Community Briefs

Roundtable discussion on Proposition 71
The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network has scheduled a conference on Proposition 71, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 10, at the Crowne Plaza Cabaña in Palo Alto.
Distinguished representatives from all sides of the debate will participate in the conference.
On Nov. 2, the people of […]

Smuin Ballet performs ‘Frankie & Johnny’ in MV

Smuin Ballet will perform its newest show, “Frankie & Johnny,” along with relaxed “Pacific Dances” and pretty “Chants d’Auvergne” at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts today through Sunday.

The company is an excellent entrée into dance for youth, novices to the dance world, or others who may be intimidated by watching dance. Choreographer and founder Michael Smuin’s 17-dancer company is based out of San Francisco. Smuin directed the San Francisco Ballet from 1973 to 1985 but has been most successful in his commercial work, choreographing for Broadway, film, and television.

‘Fountain of youth’ among discoveries at YMCA’s older adult day

Juan Ponce de Leon, in his quest to find the Fountain of Youth, discovered Florida instead. Unfortunately for Ponce de Leon, his search for eternal life was cut short at age 55 by a Caloosa Indian’s poisoned arrow.

Dr. Jack Higgins has since taken up Ponce de Leon’s quest. Higgins revealed the secrets to a long and healthy life Thursday at the El Camino YMCA in Mountain View as part of the YMCA’s National Active Older Adult Day.

PTA Council honors two retiring superintendents, community foundation

It’s the time of year for celebrating what is slipping quickly away. It isn’t just graduation season, it’s Michaels season, as Rich Fischer, superintendent of Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, said recently. There was plenty to praise and even more to wave goodbye to with tears and laughter during the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council luncheon at Michaels at Shoreline last week.

Barbara Emerich, a council veteran, paid tribute to PTA Life Service Award-winner Lucille Liewer, who died in April at the age of 98. The program also remembered young Matt Heroux, the Egan Junior High School science teacher who was killed in an accident in the fall.

Santa Rita celebrates International Day

Santa Rita School’s International Day May 26 was a living illustration of its multicultural student body. Teacher Dorothy Dickson, who grew up in Scotland, introduced the annual event early in her 14 years at the school to help students from other countries adjust to the cultural differences they find here.

The celebration began with a parade of flags and the singing of the heritage song, “The People of My Past.” Children marched onto the blacktop carrying flags of 20 nations; dozens of other flags were displayed throughout the school. Most of the student body danced in at least one of the folk dances from China, Mexico, Israel, Scotland, Italy, Japan and the United States - the U.S. dance was the Electric Slide. The day culminated in a potluck dinner.

St. Francis International Club members are fans of multiculturalism

The St. Francis International Club held its fourth annual Multicultural Showcase April 27 in Raskob Gymnasium. The event drew more than 400 students, family members and faculty who were treated to food, dancing and music from around the world.

This year, more than 100 students performed in the show, which featured traditional dances from Ireland, India, China, the Dominican Republic, Egypt and many more countries.

New extended-day kindergarten reaches enrollment cap for fall

Registration for the extended-day kindergarten slated to open in the fall at Bullis-Purissima School reached its cap of 100 students for five classrooms May 18. Six more students are on a waiting list.

All the children registered for the pilot program live within the six current elementary school boundary areas. Los Altos School District Superintendent Marge Gratiot said the schools are free to accept interdistrict transfer students.

Arrows fly at De Anza

Gunn High School student Trevor Bennett launches an arrow in the archery event at the Kiwanis Special Games May 20. He was one of 750 participants in the games held at De Anza College.

Disario named MVLA teacher of year

Jodi Lynn Disario has been named Teacher of the Year for the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District. Disario teaches English at Alta Vista High School, where she also serves as a senior advisor and on the leadership team.

Principal Bill Pierce said, “Over the six years that Jodi Disario has been with Alta Vista, she has designed curriculum for six courses, stepped in as senior counselor (for which she revamped many policies and procedures), and designed the exit portfolio, a new AVHS graduation requirement. In addition, this year she served as co-coordinator for WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), co-coordinator of testing and community service coordinator.”

Noteworthies

Maria Villanueva, a senior at Los Altos High School, is one of three local high school students to win a four-year, $16,000 scholarship from the University Club of Palo Alto. She plans to attend UC-Berkeley.

Maria has a GPA of 4.17 and a balanced SAT score of 1260. She is active in student government, represented LAHS at Girls State and was chosen Homecoming Queen this year. She has been active in the Mountain View Police Explorer group, the Latin Dance Club and Girls for a Change.

Almond students ‘Stomp’ off to junior high

The defining moment of the “Almond Live in 2005″ talent show was the sixth-grade finale - their way of saying goodbye to the school. From left, Jill Rubin, Kellie Osuga, Emma

Patrick, Curran Mahowald, Lizzy Lukrich, Carolyn Huang, Amy Wright, Kelly Mahncke, Brenda Luna, Lauren Bednarski and Caitlin Halliwell were among the sixth-graders performing a spirited version of “Stomp.” Students from all grades of Almond School participated in the three-hour show May 15 at Foothill College’s Smithwick Theatre.

Schools Briefs

2005-2006 MVLA calendar approved
Students in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District next year will end first semester three days before Christmas and start second semester 10 days into the new year.
After hearing that the District Teachers’ Association strongly favored that schedule, four trustees voted for the calendar revision […]

A runner with heart

When runner Laura Perry takes to the track for De Anza College, there’s never any concern about her effort.

The Los Altos High graduate has one mode: all-out.

Market responds positively to good GDP news

While the Dow Jones Industrial Average of 30 blue chip companies and the S&P 500 were little changed last week, the Nasdaq index gained just under 1 percent, continuing a rally that has brought it up almost 8 percent since its mid-April low. The tech-heavy index is less than 5 percent below its level at the beginning of the year.

Late last week the market responded positively to an upward revision in first-quarter GDP to 3.5 percent. This was an improvement over the 3.1 percent growth originally reported. The GDP is a measure of all economic activity in a country.

Economic concerns lead Loyola Corners in new direction

Some neighbors were surprised when they discovered that the smell of perspiration had replaced what was supposed to be the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a new cafe touted to attract foot traffic to one Los Altos shopping center.

Fitness Solutions opened last March at Loyola Corners, in the site previously targeted for Lazy Bean Cafe - a coffeehouse-deli that developers said would add a sense of community to the neighborhood by providing locals a hangout in a shopping area that has recently experienced a decline in retail stores. City planners called the cafe “a fresh idea, an enhancement and an anchor” to stimulate more activity.

How to say no appropriately

Nobody wants a “no.” Plan on that. Plan on disappointment, frustration, tears, anger and revenge.

Don’t expect the receiver to be pleasant to you for the first shock wave. Be patient.

New and improved

A sport coupe is fun to drive solo on the backroads, and SUVs are fine for trips to the mountains.

However, there comes a time in your life when the appropriate car is a comfortable and elegant four-door sedan that will take two couples out to dinner at a nice restaurant, or down to Carmel for a weekend getaway.

Tips for what to do when in a car accident

Although responsible motorists try to avoid them, even the best drivers get into auto accidents. The National Safety Council estimates 20 million drivers will be in accidents this year.

The NSC offers these tips on what to do after an auto accident:

The language of luxury

The upscale auto world has long dismissed the idea of naming cars.

When it’s time for product planners to name their pride and joy, they skip past the dictionary of everyday communication and dive into coded strings of letters, numbers and decimal points. Because of psychological forces understood only to marketing geniuses (or a complete lack of imagination), anonymity has come to equal prestige.

Whale watching excursions to Farallon Islands depart from San Francisco, Half Moon Bay

Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents don’t have to travel far to get a taste of a mysterious world that exists just miles away from their back yards - a national park beneath the sea, the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

The San Francisco-based Oceanic Society will kick off its 22nd annual Whale Watching season with special day trips to the Farallon Islands June 4-5 in celebration of World Environment Day.

Datebook

Datebook items are run on a space-available basis for entertainment, non-profit events, low-cost classes and groups of wide interest in our circulation area. The deadline is noon, Tuesday, for the next week’s paper. Notices must be typed and include a contact name and phone number. Items may be submitted via e-mail (peteb@latc.com); fax (948-6647) or post (138 Main St., Los Altos, CA 94022).

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