The verdict is in

She is an Associate Justice of the California Courts of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District. He is a judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. Patricia Bamattre-Manoukian and Socrates Peter Manoukian share more than black robes and judicial authority. They are one of a handful of married couples in the state who are both judges.

The Manoukians of Los Altos Hills have three sons, Mike, Matt and Martin, and are very much a part of the community.

Elections leader learns of Prop. 77 while in LA

Los Altos

California’s Secretary of State Bruce McPherson sat down to talk with the Town Crier Thursday just as Superior Court Judge Gail Ohanesian struck Prop. 77 from the Nov. 8 special election ballot.

State tells town to update plan

Los Altos Hills

The document that governs municipal policies from housing to hazardous waste in Los Altos Hills needs to be overhauled. That was the message in a letter the state of California recently sent the town regarding its general plan.

LAH plans to dedicate millions in city funds for charter school

The Los Altos Hills City Council is forging ahead with plans to kick in town money for the Bullis Charter School’s future campus.

The council voted Thursday to have its finance committee investigate how much and where the money, up to $2.5 million, could come from. It also voted to spend up to $12,000 on a consultant and authorized using staff time to find a site for the school. The council’s action fulfilled a charter school request earlier this month when charter school officials disclosed they were pursuing a residential property on Purissima Road and asked the council to help them buy it.

McPherson talks about role as Secretary of State

California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson stopped in Los Altos last week for an interview with the Town Crier. The former State Assemblyman and fourth-generation Santa Cruz native took office March 30 after Kevin Shelley resigned following questions about campaign funds.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed the Republican, and both Democrat-controlled houses of the California Legislature unanimously confirmed his appointment. As secretary of state, McPherson oversees 490 employees in Sacramento as well as in four regional offices.

Two candidates, two vacancies

Los Altos Councilmen John Moss and King Lear won their second terms unchallenged in 2001. Their successors could do the same if no one else enters the council race before Aug. 17. Only two candidates had pulled papers from the city clerk’s office by the end of last week.

Randall Hull and Val Carpenter pulled candidacy papers within hours after the nomination period opened July 18. Both candidates serve on the city’s planning commission.

Bob Lacey named new LA police chief

Keeping crime out of Los Altos has been more than just a job requirement for Bob Lacey. Los Altos is the place where he grew up, attended local schools and forged his career in law enforcement.

On Monday morning, the longtime Los Altos policeman was put in charge of overseeing the community’s safety. City Manager Phil Rose appointed Lacey police chief. His duties began immediately, Rose said.

Editorials

Another call for safety on San Antonio

In the ensuing weeks, according to City Manager Phil Rose, the issue of safety on San Antonio has been referred to the city’s traffic commission. We assume commissioners are working on plans to increase safety on this roadway as well as other locations.

Letters to the Editor

Music supporters ask help toward organ
Tatiana Granoff

The Town Crier’s wonderful article on the Los Altos High School Choral Music Program (July 13) mentions that Main Street Singers’ alumni and friends are raising funds to purchase an organ for the Eagle Theater. The theater does have a grand piano, but adding an […]

Rules of the Road

When President Bush appointed Norm Mineta to his cabinet, Jay Leno joked about the prospect of an Asian secretary of transportation. “What was Bush thinking?” he quipped. “Have you seen how old Asian guys drive?” My husband laughed loudly enough that it was almost insulting, but I stayed quiet because, unfortunately, I am the stereotypical bad Asian driver.

I have a terrible sense of direction, have no memory for landmarks and am generally unaware of what is going on around me. I have been known to stare at a freeway entrance sign clearly marked “south,” hyper-consciously aware that I need to head north, then turning in anyway. I’ve done the same for east and west, too. My only saving grace, if you can call it that, is that I actually drive better backwards than forwards, so if a driving test still required parallel parking, I’d ace it.

Commercial artist known for generosity, talent

Yvonne Arloene Ward influenced generations of Los Altos shoppers through her hand-sketched advertisements that appeared in local newspapers and magazines. Her work was so admired that many local advertisers refused to have anyone else create their ads. The longtime Los Altos resident and commercial artist died June 2 in Humboldt County. She was 86.

Born May 2, 1919, in Marysville to Arloene and John Weihe, Mrs. Ward spent much of her early childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was only 12 when her mother died of cancer. That changed home life forever for Mrs. Ward and her older brother Neil. Their father could not take care of them alone so the two siblings went from relative to relative.

Obituary Notices

KENNETH A. HANSEN
1/23/1938 - 7/12/2005
As in life, Ken was surrounded in death by his friends, after a fifteen-month battle with lung cancer. Born in Two Harbors Minnesota and raised in Mt. View, he was an Eagle Scout, and attended Mt. View High School. His family owned The Palm Motel in […]

Anniversary

James and Rebecca McLoughlin will mark their 60th wedding anniversary with a Mass celebrated by St. Nicholas pastor, Rev. Larry Purcell, 8 a.m. Aug. 5 in St. Nicholas Church, followed by a coffee reception in the Parish Center.

The McLoughlins were married Aug. 5, 1945, in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States in January 1958. They settled in the Bronx, N.Y. Twenty years ago, they moved to the West Coast, and have spent the last 17 years in Los Altos Hills.

Anniversary

Martin J. Spangler and Suzanne Bailey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this month.

The couple was married July 9, 1955, in Los Angeles.

Engagement

Kathleen Straw and Christopher Loweth have announced their engagement to be married Nov. 12. The ceremony and reception will be held in Chicago.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William Straw of Los Altos. She graduated from St. Francis High School, received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from College of the Holy Cross, Mass., a master’s of public health in health law from Boston University and a juris doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She practices medical malpractice defense for the firm Weldon-Linne & Vogt in Chicago.

ENGAGEMENT

Melissa “Missy” Aberle and Cas Schneller have announced their engagement to be married Aug. 20 in Lead, S.D. A reception for the couple will follow at the Spearfish Lodge in Spearfish, S.D.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Jim and Cathie Aberle of Lead. She graduated from Lead High School and received her bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. She is employed as a SEC Analyst at Fund American Companies.

Scouting News

Robert Grant Cameron of Boy Scout Troop 37 has been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.

For his Eagle project, he erected four 8-feet-by-8-feet murals at Egan Middle School, painted by previous Egan alumni. He led the efforts of 12 scouts and several adults in more than 130 hours of planning and construction.

Births

Forrest John Anderson, a baby boy, was born March 26 at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital to Suzette and Timothy Forrest Anderson. He weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 19-inches long. Grandparents are the E. Forrest Andersons and John and Charlene Ramirez.

Wedding and Engagement 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.

The ‘mane’ course

Branding, horse shoeing and grooming were just a few of the topics covered during the Junior Horsemanship Camp held July 15-17 at the public riding ring in Los Altos Hills. Nearly 20 volunteers from the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association organized and led the daylong camp activities.

“This was the first time we’ve done this type of camp,” said Lori Askew, the association’s president. “It was a raging success.”

Pet of the Week

Palo Alto Animal Services is looking for loving, responsible potential pet owners to provide lifelong homes for healthy, happy kittens. If you can open your heart and home to one, please come to the animal shelter at 3281 E. Bayshore Road, 496-5971.

Calendar

Today
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board, 7:30 p.m., district offices, 330 Distel Circle.
Los Altos Hills Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., town hall, 26379 Fremont Road.
Los Altos Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 97 Hillview Avenue.
Monday
Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Board, 1-5 p.m., administrative offices, 12345 S. El Monte […]

Bringing the Bullis Charter School to Los Altos Hills subject of forum

Hills2000, a non-profit community group in Los Altos Hills, has scheduled an educational forum 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 2 addressing the city council’s recent actions to assist the Bullis Charter School is purchasing a site for its campus in Los Altos Hills.

The forum will be held at the home of residents Sue and John Sullivan.

Los Altos resident named Skoll Foundation’s COO

The Skoll Foundation recently named the foundation’s Controller Richard Fahey of Los Altos to the position of chief operating officer.

In his new role, Fahey will lead the foundation’s financial and operations functions.

Los Altans find own ‘treasure’ in Masons

Dan McDaniel is Los Altos’ own national treasure.

Last year, producers asked him to appear in the DVD extra features for the movie “National Treasure.”

Community Briefs

MacArthur 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 can sample wines from more than 60 wineries, […]

They’ll follow the sun

Foothill-De Anza Community College District officials threw the switch on the new solar panels atop the Stelling parking structure July 20. Chevron Energy Solutions was the general contractor for the $5.1 million project, which included other improvements to energy efficiency on both campuses. The total cost was offset by $2 million in state rebates. The 201-kilowatt solar electric shade system on the De Anza garage follows the sun’s path across the sky; the 100-kilowatt solar electric shade system on the Foothill campus is stationary. Officials say the new systems reduce the district’s electrical costs by 46 percent, for a savings of as much as $800,000 a year. The non-polluting new solar electric generation systems on both campuses also avoid the unwanted byproduct of other forms of electricity generation, in the district’s case, 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year - as much as 2,000 acres of trees can absorb.

Committee process replaces solo decisions for MVLA high school organizations

From now on, a committee consisting of an administrator and the students and parents who plan trips for the Los Altos High School Eagles Marching Band will determine who goes on those trips and who receives a trip scholarship, said Joe White, the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District’s associate superintendent for business services, last week.

Band members brought back the silver from the London Wind Band Festival last summer - and some resentment over free rides from those who worked to pay their own way. Band director Ted Ferrucci was criticized for taking along some band alumni and chaperons, including his fiancée, at the band’s expense.

Noteworthies

Sudabeh Ezzatyar, a junior from Los Altos, was named to the Gonzaga University dean’s list for the spring semester. Students must earn a grade point average of 3.5-3.69 to be listed.

Brian Levenson, son of Eileen Sopher and Rick Levenson of Mountain View, will enter Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass, this fall.

‘Once more, with feeling’

Students of Bullis Charter School took their spring musical on the road at the end of the school year. They performed songs from an adaptation of “A Chorus Line” at the Pilgrim Haven retirement community in Los Altos.

The fifth-graders visited with residents after the show.

Locating charter school at Bullis site not legal remedy, judge declares

Bullis Charter School’s request that the Santa Clara County Superior Court order the Los Altos School District to house the charter in Bullis-Purissima Elementary School was denied by Judge William J. Elfving June 7, according to John Yeh, an attorney for the school district.

The school district filed a demurrer May 6 to dismiss the charter school’s second amended complaint, filed April 1.

Book offers help for children in chronic pain

Children who suffer from pain that just won’t go away are robbed of their childhood. They hurt. They worry too much and are afraid. Chronic pain affects school attendance and grades, participation in fun activities and relationships with friends and family.

The rest of the family suffers, too - psychologically, socially and emotionally. Parents and children alike feel out of control and helpless. Sometimes a definitive diagnosis is impossible to find, adding to the frustration. Parents feel guilty about not being able to help their child feel better.

Schools Briefs

Alta Vista construction ahead of schedule
Construction of Alta Vista High School is well ahead of schedule. The punch-list check for the substantially completed facility is scheduled for Aug. 17. The move-in date, however, is not likely to be earlier than Jan. 1 unless the second of two contractors finishes much sooner […]

PAUSD named ‘outperformer’ by Standard & Poor’s

The Palo Alto Unified School District was one of 29 California school districts recognized as academic “outperformers” by Standard & Poor’s School Evaluation Services July 19.

School districts identified as outperformers were those reporting significantly higher percentages of students who scored proficient or above on California reading and math tests than other school districts with similar levels of student poverty in the state over two school years. Academic achievement levels were compared with the percentage of economically disadvantaged students because the two indicators are often correlated.

Water work pays off

This summer hasn’t been much of a vacation for Tyler Smith. The Los Altos teen is spending plenty of time in the pool, but he’s not floating on an air mattress at a Hawaiian resort or doing cannonballs in his buddy’s backyard.

The pool is like Smith’s office, and he goes to work almost every day in an effort to become a better water polo player. In the mornings, he can be found training with his Los Altos High teammates. In the evenings, he’s working out with the Stanford University men’s team. In between, he lifts weights.

Stock indexes rise slightly despite London terrorist attacks

Major stock indexes closed a little higher last week after terrorist attacks in London and Alan Greenspan’s testimony in Congress.

The S&P 500 advanced 0.5 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher by 0.1 percent.

Finding the stylish handbag

The Mapuche Indians of Argentina tell the story of Amancay, a humble woman who discovers an orange flower that can save the man she loves and the rest of her sick tribe.

When a greedy condor asks for her heart in exchange for the powerful plant, Amancay doesn’t think twice before making the ultimate sacrifice

Mountain View chamber swears in Rich Fischer as board chairman

The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce swore in Rich Fischer, superintendent of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, as chairman during its 2005-2006 board of directors meeting.

More than 100 people attended the chamber’s annual membership mixer on July 13 to celebrate the reorganization of the board.

Newest Harry Potter continues author Rowling’s magic

It’s the middle of July and London is shrouded in fog. Or is it?

Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge explains to the Muggle Prime Minister that the fog is really Dementors breeding.

Genre-buster ‘Home Land’ - read it just to say you did

Ignatius J. Reilly strode into the world of letters in 1980 in John Kennedy Toole’s posthumously published Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “A Confederacy of Dunces.”

Twenty-five years after his debut, Ignatius has spawned an heir - Lewis Miner in Sam Lipsyte’s work of demented genius, the satire “Home Land” (Picador, 2005).

A dream home - at last

Debbie and Dennis Segers had been collecting Mission and Craftsman furniture and artwork for years, but their ranch home in Pleasanton provided a less than perfect canvas for its display. They began looking for a home to fit their furniture.

The Segerses also wanted to be closer to Santa Clara, where Dennis was then on the board of directors of Matrix Semiconductor Inc. He is now CEO and president.

The Arts & Crafts Movement

The rich wooden beams, built-in bookcases, stained glass and other decorative components of a Craftsman home may seem somewhat heavy to modern eyes. But when viewed against what it replaced, the Arts & Crafts style that first became popular in the 1880s in England was like a breath of fresh air.

Arts & Crafts was a reaction to the ornate Victorian period that was then reaching a level of high rococo. Large windows were all but covered with velvet drapes, busy floral patterns decorated wallpaper and carpets. Furniture was massive and ornately carved - often further ornamented with fringed cloths. On top of all this was an array of bric-a-brac recently made affordable to an emerging British middle class through mass production. Victorians were dedicated collectors.

Native plants can bring birds and butterflies - and make gardener’s life easier

Looking for something special for your garden this fall? The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) suggests planting California native plants to enjoy stunning displays in spring.

Hidden Villa’s semiannual native plant sale isn’t until Oct. 15, but now is the time to begin thinking about how you could use native plants to make your gardening easier and more dramatic all at the same time.

Government, non-profit programs can help first-time homebuyers

Everyone knows how expensive it is to buy a home in California. Fewer people may be aware that there is plenty of help to be found for moderate and low-income first-time buyers - even in Los Altos.

Great places to start are your local city and county redevelopment agencies or housing authorities. Another is with a non-profit housing organization; many offer different types of homebuyer assistance loans and grants.

Some creativity can add spark to your home

Redecorating your house doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can give any room a face-lift without breaking the bank, by adding a few small, decorative pieces and using your own creativity.

Rare hand-carved Arts & Crafts desk highlights Mountain View estate auction

Churchill Crocker Auctions will feature one of the few surviving hand-carved desks created by legendary New York Arts & Crafts designer Charles Rohlfs at its estate auction scheduled 11a.m. Aug. 14 in Mountain View. A similar signed desk sold in New York last year for $179,000.

The desk includes many of the features that earned Rohlfs critical acclaim during his career, including decorative, repetative carvings across the front of the piece.

Old homes can be more than you bargained for

Historic homes - most people either hate them or love them. I happen to be one of those who favors old over new.

My family has strong ties to California’s history before and during the time it became part of the United States. Some family members were part of the Anza Expedition that came to California in 1777; others were members of the first successful wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada in 1844.

Insurance companies help people start over after a total home loss

When a natural gas explosion destroyed a Los Altos home recently, the family was displaced and forced to rebuild their lives.

While it’s hard to imagine saying goodbye to a home and personal belongings, insurance companies can ease the daunting task of starting over from scratch.

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).

THEATER