Will this ring be a diamond?

Buzby won’t be jumping fences any time soon. The blue bandage encircling his right foreleg flashes with each step as owner Jennifer Basiji puts the brown Morgan gelding through his paces.

Basiji has brought the 10-year-old to Los Altos Hills’ public riding ring on this day for some gentle rehabilitation. Buzby’s wrestling match with a plastic bucket in March resulted in a shattered bucket and a severed tendon. It will be another couple of months before the tendon is healed.

Wizards gather downtown for new Harry Potter book

Muggles, squibs and wizards turned out last Friday night in downtown Los Altos to celebrate the long-awaited release of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

Main Street became Hogworts central for an evening of wizard word games, a movie and a treasure hunt. The free activities were a prelude to the much-anticipated sixth book in the Harry Potter series, which went on sale at the stroke of midnight.

Los Altos gas explosion probe turns up no big clues

Fire investigators have spent more than a week carefully sifting through thick layers of rubble piled as high as 15 feet in some areas in their search for gas pipes, connectors and other pieces of evidence needed to determine the cause of a natural gas explosion that leveled a Los Altos home July 7. They still had no conclusions Monday by press deadline.

“There’s a lot of rubble to go through,” said Jeff Smith, spokesman for Pacific Gas & Electric, which is conducting an

Pro football coach arrested for scamming charity money from Los Altos merchants

The pro football coach who allegedly scammed Los Altos merchants out of thousands of dollars during a charity event for children turned himself in to police following an eight-month statewide manhunt.

Los Altos police tracked down Terry Burton, 41, near Fairfield after piecing together information from an unnamed source. The former Oakland Raider staffer and coach of the San Francisco Stingrayz women’s pro football team surrendered June 30. He faces two felony counts of burglary, two counts of grand theft and one count of identity theft.

Bank robber wearing straw hat escapes with $9,000

A man who hid his identity beneath a straw hat alegedly robbed the Bank of America on Fremont Road in south Los Altos July 8 during peak business hours. Police earlier this week were trying to locate the lanky, six-foot, four-inch black man who escaped with approximately $9,000.

Los Altos police officer John Hughmanick said the man pushed past customers at around 3 p.m. and scaled the counter while announcing, “This is a robbery.”

The race to fill two open seats on LA council has begun

Two candidates have thrown their names into the race for the Los Altos City Council. Two seats will become vacant this November when Councilmen John Moss’ and King Lear’s second terms expire.

Randall Hull and Val Carpenter filed papers Monday morning within hours after the filing period opened, city clerk Susan Kitchens confirmed Monday.

Teen arrested for assaulting girl, 14, at Los Altos party

A 15-year-old Mountain View boy is facing rape charges for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old Los Altos girl at an unsupervised juvenile party that took place in a home on Osage Avenue July 5, while the owners and their children were out of town. Los Altos police had gathered enough evidence last week to arrest the teen Friday.

Los Altos police officer John Hughmanick said police were still conducting interviews with other party guests this week and anticipated filing trespassing charges against the host, who is a friend of the homeowners’ children.

LAH gives OK for new water district building

The Purissima Hills Water District is set to vacate its termite-riddled headquarters - nearly as old as the district, which turned 50 this year. The district intends to build a 2,000-square-foot building on Los Altos Hills Town Hall property near the intersection of Fremont and Concepcion roads.

The city council approved the building plans Thursday on the condition that those shepherding the $850,000 project participate in PG&E’s Savings by Design program, the same program that the city participated in when designing its new town hall.

Editorial

The Los Altos Hills City Council’s continued foray into the public education business now involves a potential land swap that could cost the town an estimated $2.5 million.

The city attorney has been asked to look into the feasibility of swapping a 1.8-acre town-owned property on Page Mill Road for a 3.3-acre property across from the Little League fields on Purissima Road. The scenario has the town kicking in additional funding to make up the difference in the size and value of the properties.

Letters to the Editor

Thanks for relay coverage
Pat Osborne

Many thanks to the Town Crier for its excellent coverage of Relay For Life. Residents of this community have again rallied to set records for the American Cancer Society, for, in some way we have all been affected by cancer.
It is refreshing that our local newspaper […]

The balloon that flew away

Right after the Fourth of July, we released my birthday balloon into the heavens. My birthday party brought together old friends, my loving relatives, and Howard and I as hosts. Looking around a special hotel room, cozy with only two round tables, made me aware of the passage of time and its influence on our guests as well as on ourselves.

Howard and I were the babies of the group in terms of our years together - only nine. Several couples had already passed the magical number of 50 golden years. Only one couple in this particular group had celebrated in the traditional way: a large party bringing family, friends and adult children together for a catered meal, dancing, dressy clothes and many toasts for their continued happiness.

Obituary Notices

LOUISE BURKS
Louise Burks of Los Altos, at rest in Los Altos July 7, 2005 at the age of 92. She was the wife of the late Thomas Young and is survived by a niece, Jean Henrickson. Born October 27, 1912 in Oregon, Louise was a homemaker and a long time member of […]

Engagements

Shapiro, Vandeford
Natasha Bernadett-Shapiro and Aaron Vandeford have announced their engagement to be married in July 2006.
The bride-to-be is the daughter of Susan Bernadett-Shapiro and Jerry Shapiro of Los Altos. She graduated from Los Altos High School and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Willamette University, Ore. She is […]

From the bandstand to the parade float, Ye Olde Towne Band plays for Los Altos

When Bob Mosely took his trumpet overseas in World War II, he couldn’t find a group to join. But since a long-ago return to California, Mosely has made a home in Ye Olde Towne Band, where for the last 50 years he and others have had a chance to fill Los Altos with the sound of music.

On July 31, the historic local band will treat a picnicking, dancing crowd at Shoup Park to marches, medleys and patriotic tunes. Well-known for its colorful gazebo float at the Festival of Lights Parade in November and the Los Altos Kiwanis Pet Parade in May, Ye Olde Towne Band also plays concerts in Shoup Park the last Sunday of every month all summer.

Apricot harvesting still going on in Los Altos area

Even though Los Altos now grows more houses than apricots, there are still several active orchards that recently completed this season’s harvest in the city.

One orchard, on David and Lucile Packard’s original property in Los Altos Hills, is now maintained by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofit organizations. The 60-acre orchard changed hands in 2000 after the death of David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett Packard, in 1996.

Community Briefs

MacArthur Park Festival set for Aug. 13
The 24th Annual MacArthur Park Fine Wine and Food Festival is slated 12:30-4 p.m. Aug. 13 at MacArthur Park Restaurant, 27 University Ave., Palo Alto. Festival proceeds benefit the Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Visitors may sample wines from more than 60 […]

Pet of the Week

Scamp is a 2- to 3-year-old neutered male flame point cat available for adoption at Palo Alto Animal Services. Scamp is described as an affectionate kitty who is playful, curious and outgoing. He has been at the shelter for a long time. To adopt Scamp, contact Palo Alto Animal Services, 3281 E. Bayshore Road, by calling 496-5971.

Calendar

Today
Los Altos Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission, 7 p.m. city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
Thursday
Los Altos Planning Commission, 7 p.m. city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
Los Altos Hills City Council, 6 p.m. town hall, 26379 Fremont Road.
Mountain View-Whisman School District Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m. […]

Foothill to hold fifth annual gala Sunday

The Foothill Commission has scheduled its Fifth Annual Summer Gala for Sunday afternoon. The event will feature an elegant alfresco dinner around the Foothill Library Courtyard fountain, wine tasting, live and silent auctions, and a matinee performance of the acclaimed Broadway favorite, “Brigadoon.”

Geoff Egan, a Los Altan and an accomplished bagpiper, will greet event attendees. Foothill Music Theatre director Jay Manley will set the stage with his director’s notes beginning at 1:30 p.m. Items on bid in the live auction will include getaways to Cabo, Maui and other exotic destinations, dinners in spectacular private homes and yachting on San Francisco Bay.

Noteworthies

The University of Arizona, Tucson, presented the Arizona Excellence Award to Cara Chronis, a June graduate of Los Altos High School. The $2,000 scholarship is renewable for four years and intended to support students who maintain a commitment to excellence throughout their academic career.

Brian Hou, a student at Mountain View High School, is conducting research in particle-packing characteristics that has implications for the way medications can be packaged and shipped. As a participant in the UC Davis School of Education’s Young Scholars Program, Hou is working under the guidance of physics professor Rena Zieve in the UC Davis Laboratory. He will prepare a paper and presentation about his research as part of his project.

Schools Briefs

Foothill students need homes
Hosts are needed for Foothill College students for three or more months. Students will arrive in late August. Hosts will be paid $700 per month to provide students room, board and TLC. For more information, call Kristi Clarke, 949-3091 or 400-1390.
Gunn 30th reunion scheduled July 23 […]

Peanuts gang gives security blankets to Ronald McDonald House

Two casts of fifth- through seventh-graders in the summer enrichment program at Blach Intermediate School performed excerpts from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” last week. Students in Sharon Barkoff’s class sang and acted a half-hour montage of the popular show in the drama room July 13-14. In addition to performing, each cast made a quilt for children staying at Ronald McDonald House. At the second performance, the casts presented the quilts to Patricia Smith, director of activities at Ronald McDonald House. Charlie Brown (Marcus White) and Snoopy (Julia White) help Smith display one of the quilts.

FHDA set to unveil solar power systems

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District plans to unveil two solar power systems and highlight energy efficiency improvements at the colleges at 10 a.m. today.

The event is to take place under the solar panels on the top level of Stelling Parking Garage on the De Anza campus, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino.

A case against soda - and vending machines - on school campuses

The end of the school year is a time to reflect on one’s achievements in the classroom, generally somewhat sentimentally. However, what is happening to students at recess and lunch should be a cause of shame, not pride. In fact, it is a leading cause of concern in the United States.

Every day, American students in junior high and high schools stand in line to receive their lunches. They do not stand in hot-lunch lines, but in lines for vending machines. Smoothing out their dollar bills and counting coins, they jostle one another to get a better view of what is on the other side of the glass window. Chances are they get a glimpse of Cheetos, Oreos, Ruffles, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Pepsi, Mountain Dew and other bagged and bottled snacks.

New LASD Superintendent Justus arrives in season of lawsuits

When new Los Altos School District Superintendent Tim Justus reported for duty July 7, the district was involved in lawsuits brought by the town of Los Altos Hills and Bullis Charter School last September. The day after he claimed his office, it was facing involvement in a third suit, this one from a private citizen, Peggy Sakach. The district had not received a summons by press time.

District business manager Randy Kenyon said that through April, the district had spent $42,500 defending itself in the town’s lawsuit and $89,000 in the charter school’s suit. Billing Kenyon has seen since April brings the total for the charter school case to more than $100,000.

They’re off to Indy

It’s taco time for Eric Hersey. Thanks to his first-place performance in the 400-meter hurdles at the Region 14 Junior Olympics, Hersey is teeming with tortillas.

“I told him I’d buy him a taco for every meter he won by,” said Julia Widstrand, Hersey’s coach on the Fox Athletics track and field team. “I owe him 15 tacos.”

S&P 500 hits four-year high, U.S. dollar finishes strong

The S&P 500 hit a four-year high last week closing up 1.33 percent while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.83 percent and the Nasdaq rose 2.08 percent.

Government economic data was positive last week with wholesale-price inflation flat for June and stripping energy and food and the core rate, slightly negative.

Arts festival closes without any glitches

The 26th annual Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival went without a problem - except for a shortage of wine glasses on the last day.

Organizers are calling the July 9-10 event one of the most successful festivals celebrated in Los Altos in recent years.

Gesundheit!

What a season for allergies! You can find sneezing people in the grocery store, at the gas station, at work, at home. This spring and summer have been the worst times for allergy sufferers in years. Or so it seems.

Dr. Massoud Mahmoudi, an allergy specialist with offices in Los Altos and Los Gatos, just smiles. “Every year I hear that this year is the worst year,” he said.

How to prevent and control allergies to trees, grasses & weeds

Trees, grasses and weeds are outdoor allergens. The abundance of pollens depends on the geographic locations and the time of the year. The climate variation of each region and its altitude from the sea, among other factors, differentiate one from another.

There are also these variables:

Parents should supervise children’s TV viewing

Q: Everyone talks about the need for supervision of computer use

by children and young adults. My question is about the influence of TV. Is TV still an influence that needs supervision? If so, can you give me a few statistics to bolster my argument with our children?

Stem cells in our future

Imagine a one-time cancer drug therapy smart enough to kill a tumor’s stem cells so the tumor could no longer generate new cells. Or a treatment for Parkinson’s that would introduce neural stem cells into the brain to continually replace vital cells destroyed by the disease.

Stem cells hold the key to regenerative medicine because of their unique properties. They can divide and renew themselves for long periods. While stem cells are unspecialized, they can give rise to specialized cell types. A single stem cell can both self-renew and produce all the functional specialized cells of the organ from which it was derived.

Risk of sports injuries is greater for children than for adults

In today’s competitive world, many children want to excel at sports - and many parents encourage them.

The benefits of moderate exercise include a reduced chance of obesity, an early start toward maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the opportunity to build important social skills. However, intense training and competition among young athletes can cause serious physical damage.

Local author chooses Los Altos as setting for young-adult novel

Los Altos is the home of teenage protagonist Jeremy Kerns in “The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley” by San Jose resident Betty Dravis (Just My Best, 2005).

Jeremy, a graphic artist who uses his Orange computer to draw a cartoon for the Mercury News, is sitting at his computer one day when his characters come to life and fly out of his screen into his room.

Los Altos cycling enthusiast leads trip to Norway

The Tour de France is the ultimate armchair bicycling event, but not everyone has to experience Europe’s roads vicariously. Los Altan Tony Cooper will lead a group of local cyclists through Fjord Norway this August.

Over two weeks the group will average 60 miles per day, winding through western Norway along terrain varying from classic seaside fjord country to mountain passes. Cooper invites locals to sign up as spaces still remain. The trip will be small, with a maximum of 10 to 12 cyclists.

Seniors face hard questions over driving

Every other month, Henry Goltz teaches his students about the importance of being a defensive driver.

No, this isn’t a driver’s ed class, and his students aren’t anxious 15-year-olds preparing to get learners’ permits.

Call it anything but exercise, if it means getting off the couch

“Exercise” is the dirty word that often turns the elderly into couch potatoes, and there appear to be plenty out there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 percent of older adults are inactive.

Fear of exercise can keep seniors with arthritis and other aches and pains from leading the active lifestyles they may have enjoyed in their younger years. But mention activities such as lively conversation, a good television program, a trip to the senior center, a captivating book or a brisk walk on a nice day, and your elderly loved one is likely to perk right up.

Children’s advocate, CHAC co-founder named Beth Am’s ‘local hero’

Brilliant, charming and altruistic Barbara Emerich, a longtime advocate for children, recently was honored as Temple Beth Am’s Local Hero at the annual Community Heroes Awards luncheon sponsored by Peninsula Interfaith Action.

“I’ve been a child advocate for as long as I can remember,” said Emerich, 85. The Los Altan is one of the founders of Beth Am and has been an active member of the temple’s social action committee since it began in the 1960s.

Senior bargain hunters: Good deals still can be had in Los Altos

A treasure trove of great bargains lies hidden away in the shops of Los Altos and Mountain View. If you know where to look, you can find some first-rate deals on exceptional, high-quality merchandise.

The following merchants offer some great bargains:

Local workshops teach ways to bolster spirituality

It has long been known that being happy not only helps extend a person’s life but makes a life of any duration seem longer and healthier.

The Center for Gerontology, Spirituality and Faith will focus on the connection between spirituality and happiness from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 28-29 at the Church of the Resurrection Hall, 725 Cascade Dr., Sunnyvale.

Simitian bill protecting elderly against financial abuse clears Assembly hurdle

State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) July 14 announced that his bill protecting elders by making bank, savings and loan, and credit union employees mandated reporters of elder financial abuse has passed out of the Assembly on a 54-10 vote. The bill will go back to the Senate for approval of the amendments taken in the Assembly, then will go to the Governor.

SB 1018, which Simitian coauthored with Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis), requires that bank employees who suspect elder financial abuse immediately notify Adult Protective Services (APS), which investigates reports of elder abuse, or law enforcement authorities.

‘Naked’ frontman Page to perform at Tower

Performing in arenas for tens of thousands of fans doesn’t phase Steven Page, lead singer/guitarist for Barenaked Ladies. But playing alone in front of a few hundred people - armed with only an acoustic guitar - he feels, well, naked.

“It’s much more nerve wracking for me,” Page said last week in a phone interview from his Toronto-area home. “I’m much more ostentatious and showy in a big place. Singing is a fairly intimate thing, and in a small venue you feel modest - it’s like they’re seeing you naked.”

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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