Parade adds spark to downtown

Sunday’s chilly but clear night ushered in Los Altos’ 28th Festival of Lights Parade. About 900 participants, including floats, dancing characters and six high school bands, thrilled a crowd of more than 25,000 bundled watchers.

A cascade of bubbles from the carousel of the Snow Queen’s float began the parade, and gusts of snowflakes blew across Santa’s sleigh, the traditional finale.

County pushes cities to enfold unincorporated islands

As the city of Los Altos proceeds with adding two unincorporated neighborhoods within its limits, Santa Clara County is smoothing the way for all its cities to annex similar “urban pockets,” unincorporated areas surrounded by city boundaries.

The board of supervisors passed a resolution earlier this month that encourages cities to take advantage of recent state law changes permitting them to annex unincorporated neighborhoods smaller than 150 acres without an election. Previously, a 50 percent dissenting vote from residents could defeat an annexation.

News Briefs

Chief Lacey interviewed about officer shooting
Local television news media tapped Los Altos Police Chief Bob Lacey this month for information related to the killing of a California Highway Patrol officer.
Brendt Anthony Volarvich, the son of a former Los Altos police officer, allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old Andy Stevens, a commercial vehicle […]

Customer-friendly recycling program approved

Recycling is about to get easier for Los Altos Hills residents. The town is in the planning stages of a new “single-stream” recycling system, in which residents needn’t sort their recyclables but can toss them all in one bin. The new program is expected to increase the amount of waste that residents recycle because of its ease.

“I think this is the wave of the future,” said Jay Shideler, environmental initiatives committee member. Other area cities including Cupertino and Palo Alto have adopted the system. In Palo Alto, debate over the increased cost of the program divided the city council. The Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously approved the project Nov. 17.

More cell tower development planned in LAH

Four new cell-tower applications have been filed in Los Altos Hills as of this month, including an application from Cingular Wireless to build a 70-foot tree-style pole at town hall.

A temporary cell tower now in place at town hall, intended to test improved coverage, has resulted in inquiries from concerned neighbors, said Carl Cahill, planning director.

Hearing rescheduled for alleged Los Altos drunk driver

The Los Altos resident who allegedly killed a 72-year-old cyclist in a hit-and-run accident last May is scheduled Dec. 14 to enter his plea to charges of driving while intoxicated, child endangerment and vehicular manslaughter.

Craig Borlik had been slated to issue his plea Nov. 21, but the hearing was continued. He could face 4-12 years in prison, according to court documents.

Two collisions occur over holiday weekend

A major injury car accident Sunday night in Los Altos delayed the arrival of some Festival of Lights Parade participants. The collision occurred at the intersection of Foothill Expressway and Main Street around 5:30 p.m. The cars involved in the accident were seen being towed away just before the parade was set to begin at 7 p.m. The Los Altos Police Department expected a police report to be filed after the Town Crier’s press deadline on Monday.

Another accident occurred this past holiday weekend on the Los Altos-Mountain View border. Last Friday afternoon, an erratic driver rear-ended a car stopped at a traffic light in the westbound lane of El Camino Real at the El Monte Avenue intersection. The driver fled the scene and failed to yield to Mountain View police. He subsequently drove the vehicle across the El Camino divider into incoming traffic, hitting a fire hydrant and shearing a tree in half on the front lawn of a Los Altos office complex near the Ortega Avenue intersection.

Letters to the Editor

Thinking outside the stall?
At the Nov. 17 Los Altos Hills Council meeting, tempers flared and a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee screamed and berated a councilmember. The short reason for this outburst was because the councilmember was attempting to establish a 10-hour per week, rather than a four-hour per week, riding […]

Why eating chocolate is like falling in love

In 1623 Wilhelm Schickhart built the first calculating machine, made of wood, and based on the idea of “Napier’s Bones” (a multiplying device). It could add and subtract, and with help from an operator, multiply and divide.

• The “zero” was first used in India in 876 B.C.

Sir Paul and me

I got to see Sir Paul McCartney in concert earlier this month at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. I felt I had to go and see him perform again, since you never know when it will be the last tour. I was amazed at how emotional I was after all these years to see Paul McCartney just yards away. I cried during the opening number, “Magical Mystery Tour,” and again during “Hey Jude” and “Black Bird.” I have never cried at a Rolling Stones concert; the Stones push totally different buttons.

I saw the Beatles live at the Cow Palace in August 1965, with my best friend, Dana. We diligently wrote down the names of every song for our friends who couldn’t be there, though we barely heard the music over the screaming Beatlemaniacs. Stuck in traffic leaving the Cow Palace parking lot, we sat behind a large produce truck, speculating that the Beatles were inside trying to make a disguised exit. We’d heard that Jane Asher, Paul’s girlfriend at the time, was in a play in San Francisco, and we fantasized about Paul desperately trying to get to the theater by curtain time.

Obituary Notices

CDR CHARLES E. BROSTROM, USNR (RET.)
CDR Charles E. Brostrom, USNR (Ret.), 91, long-term resident of Los Altos, CA, died Monday, November 14, 2005. He is survived by his daughters Rilda (Mrs. Roger) Matthews and Rona (Mrs. Glenn) Vaughn, grandchildren Michael Brostrom, Sonia (Mrs. Kelly) Doupe, Julie Matthews, Sean Matthews, Zachary Matthews and Glenn […]

Anniversary

Francis and Elizabeth Gaudé
Francis and Elizabeth Gaudé celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 15 in San Francisco with their children and their families.
The couple stayed at the Westin St. Francis and spent the weekend taking in the sights of the city.
The Gaudés met while employed at Douglas Aircraft, Frank as […]

Weddings

Sungwha Seo and Kenneth Smith
Sungwha Seo and Kenneth Smith were married Sept. 10 at the groom’s home in Aloha, Ore. Their reception was held at the Reserve Golf Club.
The bride is the daughter of Byoung-Ho Seo and Youn-Sun Heo of Busan, South Korea. She graduated from Dong-A University with a bachelor’s […]

LA family competes in TV show with pancakes and clown suits

A Los Altos family gave the reality TV craze a family-friendly spin this month when they teamed up to compete in American Express and JetBlue Airways’ “Share the Love” competition. The Lohs, Sam, Mimi, Iris and Josiah, jetted to Los Angeles and New York City to compete against another family in a series of four philanthropic challenges.

“We were a little nervous in the beginning, but we did well,” Sam, the father of the family, said. A film crew followed the Lohs for 48 hours, filming their every move as they attempted to earn enough True Blue points to make their way home. According to the rules, they could only earn the American Express award points by making purchases for others.

Los Altos Morning Forum speaker shares vision for prairie preserve

Wouldn’t it be a thrill for our children and grandchildren to travel to Montana to view not only large herds of free-roaming buffalo, but also to experience tule elk, fox, badgers, black and grizzly bears, prairie dogs and a variety of birds? Such a vision may become reality if the American Prairie Foundation (APF) has its way.

Sean Gerrity, APF president, outlined the successful initial efforts for locating and establishing a prairie preserve during a Nov. 15 Los Altos Morning Forum talk. Gerrity moved from the Bay Area to Montana and now oversees 31,000 acres of grasslands, 11,000 of which are owned and 20,000 leased.

Sister Cities sponsors a design-a-T-shirt contest

The Los Altos Sister Cities organization is sponsoring a competition for best T-shirt design for the Los Altos New Year’s Day 5K Fun Run, Walk and Roll on Jan. 1.

The winning design will be featured on T-shirts sold at the annual downtown Los Altos event, which encourages participation from walkers, runners, skaters, scooters and strollers of all ages.

Calendar

Thursday
Los Altos Hills City Council, 6 p.m., town hall, 26379 Fremont Road.
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., district offices, 759-A San Pierre Way.
Monday
Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees, 7 p.m., […]

Pet of the Week

Patiently awaiting a home, Bandit is a petite young-adult Rex rabbit who is friendly, active and easy to handle. To adopt Bandit, contact Palo Alto Animal Services, 3281 E. Bayshore Road, 496-5971.

Panel to address California’s energy future at LWV-sponsored forum

The League of Women Voters of Los Altos-Mountain View is sponsoring a public forum on California’s energy future 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Los Altos High School’s Eagle Theater, 201 Almond Ave.

A panel of statewide energy experts will examine California’s choices as it faces growing dependence on oil and natural gas, spiraling energy prices, potential supply shortages and an aging infrastructure.

LA History Museum joins relief effort for Gulf museums

The Los Altos History Museum is participating in “Museums Helping Museums: A National Relief Effort for the Gulf Region.”

The museum’s board challenged the museum’s membership to meet or exceed the board’s donation of $1,000 to the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC), the regional non-profit museum association and a major coordinator in museum recovery and conservation efforts in the aftermath of recent hurricanes.

Acclaimed film ‘Los Altos Story’ marks local recognition of World AIDS Day

In recognition of World AIDS Day tomorrow, “The Los Altos Story,” a 30-minute film about the effect of AIDS, will air on cable TV stations throughout the Bay Area.

“The Los Altos Story” documents how AIDS changed the lives of three local Rotary Club members, their friends, their family and the entire community.

Check utilities and appliances for leaks or damage. Maintain all gas or electric appliances in good working order.

Gas lines should be installed using flexible connectors where they meet the appliances. Gas appliances include such equipment as stoves, water heaters, and spa and swimming pool heaters.

Funding sought for rescue trailer

Afund-raising drive to outfit a new mobile emergency response trailer is currently under way.

Volunteers are being trained to operate and deliver emergency search, rescue and medical equipment from the trailer to any location in Los Altos. The trailer would be stocked with a wide range of rescue supplies. Police Chief Bob Lacey said the city needs approximately $8,000 to “do a really good job on this. We’re well short of that now.”

TC Holiday Fund recipients include youth-based groups

Local philanthropists have offered to match 2005 Town Crier Holiday Fund donations up to $80,000. The matching funds would double the benefits for a total of $160,000 to assist non-profit agencies in the community.

Two of the programs, which count on fund support, focus on young people.

Holiday Briefs

Tree lighting ceremony Friday
The Los Altos Village Association has scheduled the annual tree lighting ceremony, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at the Community Plaza, corner of State and Main streets in downtown Los Altos.
In addition to the ceremonial lighting of the plaza tree, the Mountain View High School Madrigal Singers and the Pinewood […]

Community Briefs

Federated Woman’s Club meets
The Federated Woman’s Club of Los Altos will hold its monthly meeting 11 a.m. Dec. 7 at Michaels at Shoreline Restaurant, Shoreline Park, Mountain View.
Lunch is at noon. The Los Altos-Mountain View High School Choir will perform a selection of Christmas carols at 1 p.m.
Guests are welcome. […]

Foothill Commission awards more than $108,000 to academic programs, services

Health career training, tutorial services, technical support internships and musical theater are among the 12 Foothill College programs and student services awarded more than $108,000 by the Foothill Commission at its Nov. 17 allocation ceremony.

“Each year, there are fewer public dollars to support our community colleges, which are an extraordinary public resource. That’s why the Foothill Commission has made it their priority to ensure the success of Foothill College, and we applaud their visionary efforts that provide opportunities for our students to achieve and succeed,” said Marie Fox Ellison, executive director of the Foothill-De Anza Foundation.

Foothill Dance celebrates ‘The Homecoming’

The Foothill College Intercollegiate Dance Program kicks off its 20th season fund-raising efforts with “The Homecoming,” a celebration of its new dance facility.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today and Thursday in Smithwick Theatre at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.

College Briefs

Forensics team wins individual sweepstakes
Foothill College’s award-winning Speech and Debate Team continued its success at two recent tournaments: Delta College’s Mustang Invitational Nov. 11 and University of the Pacific’s Tiger Invitational Nov. 12 and 13.
Foothill won first place in the small school individual events sweepstakes, which included 64 two- and four-year […]

Schools Briefs

Homestead places 20th in national math contest
Homestead High School placed 20th in the 2005 Team Scramble, a national mathematics contest administered by National Assessment & Testing (NAT). In the first major team competition of the academic year, students had only 30 minutes to answer 100 problems in a variety of mathematical topics. […]

Noteworthies

Saira Diaz Flores, a resident of Mountain View and a senior at Los Altos High School, has won a $1,000 college scholarship from Standard Pacific Homes as part of the company’s “StanPac” Scholarship Program.

Saira earned a 3.9 grade-point average while serving as president of the Arts in Action and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) clubs. She is a member of the California Scholastic Federation and volunteers as an art aide at the Community School of Music and Art.

Students’ thirst for competition feeds hungry

On Nov. 22 a dozen or so Los Altos High School students spent their brunch break helping Assistant Principal Cristy Dawson weigh nonperishable food and beverages and place the goods - carefully, the heavy things on the bottom and the fragile things on top - into large barrels in the cafeteria. The whole school had collected canned, bottled, bagged and boxed foodstuffs for seven days for the good of the community and in the hope of beating the socks off rival Mountain View High. They did. The final score was Los Altos 15,850 pounds, Mountain View 2,600.

Schools participating in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District’s annual Thanksgiving food drive had striven to reach the districtwide goal of 15,000 pounds of food for disadvantaged people in Santa Clara County.

A seesaw start for Owls

The Foothill College women’s basketball team has seen the enemy, and it is the Owls.

“We’re not losing to people - we’re beating ourselves,” Foothill coach Jody Craig said after her team sunk to 3-3 with a shocking home loss to Monterey Nov. 22. “We beat ourselves three times.”

St. Francis falls to Palma in CCS semifinal

St. Francis High entered Saturday’s Central Coast Section Open Division semifinal game playing with a confidence that seemed to permeate throughout the football team. But that wasn’t enough to beat Palma, which prevailed 16-10 at San Jose City College.

The seventh-seeded Lancers (9-3), who dominated Aragon in the quarterfinals a week earlier, were undone by two turnovers and failed to take advantage of opportunities against No. 6 Palma (10-2).

Market’s year-end rally a welcome holiday present after steep slide

The year-end rally in stocks continued last week, bringing the S&P 500 up 5.1 percent this month, recovering from a steep slide in October. All S&P groups were up, as was oil, which closed at $58.71 per barrel. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were both up 1.6 percent for the week, while the Dow gained 1.5 and the Russell 2000 advanced 1.7 percent.

The Federal Reserve Board is responsible for fixing short-term interest rates and other monetary policy. Recent statements from the Fed showed investors some light at the end of the tightening tunnel. Many believe that short rates may have peaked. The Fed uses its tools to combat future inflation, but responding to productivity gains and global competition dictates part of the Fed’s strategy. Technology is still flooding industrial America, helping each worker achieve more, resulting in a more competitive economy.

New search engine from Los Altos startup Otopy rethinks navigation on the Internet

Los Altos-based startup Otopy wants to change the way people search the Internet.

The Otopy product, now released in beta, is a free Internet browser plug-in that superpowers every search. It uses linguistic algorithms to automatically derive and try alternative keywords on a range of search engines and presents its results in a compact format.

Second banana offers glimpse of No. 1 host

The truth is out: Johnny Carson really was the gentleman he appeared to be. That’s Ed McMahon’s story and he’s sticking to it.

“Here’s Johnny!” (Rutledge Hill Press, 2005), by Carson’s announcer Ed McMahon, tells what it was like to be part of one of TV’s most successful shows ever, “The Tonight Show.”

A visit to the ‘Top End’ yields native pleasures

I recently accompanied the head of the Northern Territory Tourism Commission and the vice presidents of Tourism Australia and Qantas Airways to the Tiwi Islands, 50 miles off the coast of Darwin, Australia. The islands are home to a rarely visited aboriginal tribe known for its distinctive carvings, paintings and Pukamani burial poles, used as a gesture of respect for the dead.

Australia’s Northern Territory covers 20 percent of the country’s land mass yet claims less than 1 percent of its total population. Only 150,000 people live in the Northern Territory, 50,000 of them Aborigines. The “Top End” of Australia has two distinct seasons - wet and dry. October through April routinely brings 100-degree heat and oppressive humidity. Because of the territory’s proximity to the equator, monsoons often produce 30 inches of rain. May through September is the dry season, when temperatures hover in the low 90s and waters are rife with dangerous box jellyfish and saltwater crocodiles. Citizens of Darwin manage to deal with the extremes: Their per capita beer intake is higher than the rest of the country.

Tech to textiles

It has all the hallmarks of a classic Silicon Valley start-up tale: Two friends from college days choose to do something they love, work hard to learn all about it, jump in with both feet and have a great time building a business together. The difference is Fred Wee and Steve Kling had to leave the technology industry to do it.

Kling’s wife, Chris Mchale Kling, met Wee at UCLA business school in the late ’80s, and the Klings became friends with Wee and his wife, Cynthia B. Lee. After graduation, all four went into technology. Wee was in product management and marketing for various tech companies; Kling ran the customer satisfaction program for Hewlett-Packard in the western United States. The couples remained friends.

Teahouse evokes a treasure trove of memories for LA resident

In Japan, where the serving of tea is a high art, there are seven rules of tea dating from the 16th century. “Be prepared for rain,” one says, “even if it is not raining.”

That is where the teahouse began for Fred Costales. He was not anticipating what happened, but something in his spirit was prepared to take the life-changing moment and turn it into something of enduring beauty.

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