Happy Holidays

Dear reader,

On behalf of our dedicated staff , we wish all readers and families a fabulous holiday

LAH council sets precedent as pro-solar town

The Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously voted last week to become the first city in the area to eliminate solar energy permit fees.

Councilman Craig Jones initiated the measure to demonstrate that the town is “pro-solar,” he said. “I want to send a very clear message that solar is not only allowed but highly encouraged by our town.”

LA police net one more alleged drug dealer in traffic stop

Last month Los Altos police arrested several alleged drug dealers who police believed were selling marijuana and cocaine to Los Altos High School students. Last week they arrested two additional individuals for drug possession. One is suspected of dealing to students at the high school.

Like the previous case that dented the operation of a suspected narcotics ring in November, the arrests resulted from a routine traffic stop last Wednesday when a Los Altos police officer pulled over a driver for a seat-belt violation.

Valencia restrictions pushed back

Los Altos High School students who park their cars in the Valencia Drive neighborhood were slated to be bumped from the area this month. But they could have a reprieve of a few more weeks.

Restricted parking was expected to go into effect in the neighborhood sometime in December, but a petition by residents to change the times when parking would be prohibited put a hold on the city’s installation of the no-parking signs. Traffic engineer Tom Ho estimated signs would be installed in the next five weeks.

LAH commission gives go-ahead for 17,389-square-foot house

The 8-acre estate Kumar and Vijaya Malavalli are developing in Los Altos Hills got a green light from the planning commission this month in front of a mostly celebratory crowd.

“One of our hot-button issues in town right now is the issue of large homes, and here we had a project where we had a very large home with an applicant very sensitive to giving back easements, and using solar and conservation in home building, and so the size wasn’t an issue,” Planning Commissioner Bart Carey said during the Dec. 8 meeting.

LA residents challenge root of sewer problem

Bambi Green calls herself the “Queen of Clorox.” And some might agree that she has a good reason to lay claim to the title.

The Frontero Avenue resident in unincorporated Los Altos has had to clean up more than her fair share of sewer backups. Earlier this month, on the morning of Dec. 7, a mess of water and sewage erupted from her bathroom’s shower drain and toilet for the sixth time since 2001.

Bomb scare search turns up women’s shoes

Deputies from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office closed off El Camino Real between Showers Drive and San Antonio Road about 5 p.m., Dec. 13, while the bomb squad investigated a possible explosive.

In response to the report of a suspicious package from a passenger on a public bus, sheriff’s deputies shut down El Camino Real while the squad assessed a small, black suitcase left at a bus stop on El Camino.

Letters to the Editor

Westwind Barn: A family affair
Cheryl Acheson

For the last three years our family has found Westwind Barn to be a welcoming place for our entire family. First, our daughter got involved with a beginning rider program which progressed to the barn being her second home. Of course, this meant that one parent would […]

‘Twas a politically correct eve

‘Twas the 24th night, when all through the car/shelter/house,

Not an endangered species was stirring, not even a mouse.

It was a dark and rainy day

Suddenly, I am in an old Western movie, and the wagons are circling around me. The sinister evil in this scenario is Time. We are barreling toward 2006, and I am being undone by the relentless turning of the pages of my two calendars. I need to take a deep breath and remind myself, “Charlotte, you are in control here.” I am?

There are holiday cards to be written, but I haven’t yet created the yearly letter that goes into each envelope. Unfortunately, I have put myself on deadline to finish this column and say something worth saying. I refuse to rant and rave about 2005 and its lunatic flood plus an earthquake that created images of dead bodies floating in muddy water. The sad faces of all those children remain with me.

Obituary Notices

In Memory of MARION RITA KIRK
Marion Rita Kirk passed away peacefully December 7, 2005 at Pilgrim Haven, Los Altos. Born Marion Rita Bernero, on May 6, 1925, a first generation Italian-American. Marion grew up on the West Side of Chicago, where she went on to become the first college graduate in her family […]

Weddings and Engagements

Kelly Cavalli and Steve Glaski
Kelly Cavalli and Steve Glaski were married April 16 at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga. Their reception was held at Round Hill Country Club.
The bride is the daughter of Christy and Gary Cavalli of Los Altos. She graduated from Los Altos High School and received […]

Anniversary

Jeanine and Martin Knutson
Jeanine D. Knutson and Martin A. Knutson (Lt.Col. USAF Ret., Test Pilot, U-2 Pilot) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 17. They were married in Minnesota in 1955. They have been residents of Los Altos Hills since 1970.
They have four children: Martin A. Knutson III of […]

HP’s Neerja Raman of Los Altos inducted into Women in Technology hall of fame

Women in Technology International (WITI) has named Los Altos resident Neerja Raman, director of Hewlett-Packard’s Imaging Systems Lab, a member of the WITI Hall of Fame.

WITI, a global organization dedicated to advancing women in technology careers, established the Hall of Fame in 1996 to recognize outstanding women for their research contributions and achievements in science and technology. As professional women in the technology industry, award recipients are on the cutting edge of innovation in their respective fields and are committed to mentoring women and girls in order to promote careers in technology.

Local volunteer ‘angels’ bring children to the hospital

When a child becomes gravely ill in a family without a car or reliable transportation, just getting to the hospital can be a huge task. But at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, Care-A-Van for Kids organizes a fleet of volunteer drivers, including Los Altans, to assist the Bay Area’s most vulnerable patients.

Last Wednesday, 8-month-old Tiger Lily Lovely flew from Crescent City, 400 miles north on the Oregon border, for an appointment at the Stanford children’s hospital. The hospital specializes in the treatment of her disorder.

Community Briefs

Main Street art collection on display
The “Main Street Holiday Collection” is currently on display at Main Street Cafe & Books in downtown Los Altos.
Jim Smyth is among the group of prominent artist/teachers whose works are showcased. Smyth, known for his life drawings and paintings, as well as colorful still lifes, is […]

Schools chief and protégé exemplify successful Partners for New Generations

Rich Fischer, retiring superintendent of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, ended a day that began much earlier than most of us wake up, spanned several campuses, and encompassed too many meetings and phone calls to count, but included a conversation with his protégé, Jose Vargas.

Vargas is one of many students Fischer has mentored through Partners for New Generations, but Vargas is special because he has impacted Fischer’s life in ways he never anticipated.

‘ChopShticks’ offers humorous alternative at holidays

While many families celebrate the traditional Christmas holiday with gifts under the tree, Los Altos resident Gloria Goldblatt is offering an alternative tradition bound to tickle your funny bone.

“ChopShticks: An Evening of Chinese Food and Comedy” is scheduled Saturday and Sunday at Ming’s Restaurant, 1700 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto.

‘Bring Me a Book’

Joan and Wally Cunneen have donated a rolling shelf of children’s books through the Bring Me a Book Foundation, founded by Judy Koch. The Cunneens made the donation “In honor of Robert Beresford Williams for his great and thoughtful generosity to others.” Bob Williams, Wally Cunneen’s U.S. Naval Academy classmate, was honored at the Children’s Health Council Dec. 8. For more information about the Bring Me A Book Foundation, visit www.bringmeabook.org. From left, Bob and Carol Meyer Marshall and Wally and Joan Cunneen, feature the rolling shelf of books.

Holiday Briefs

Santa visits Rancho
Santa Claus is scheduled to make daily appearances at Rancho Shopping Center through Saturday.
Santa is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. appearances at the shopping center, corner of Springer Road and Foothill Expressway, in Los Altos.
Hanukkah celebration
Chabad of Greater South Bay is sponsoring a Hanukkah […]

Calendar

Today
Los Altos Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission, 7 p.m., city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
Mountain View Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., city hall, 500 Castro St.
Tuesday
Mountain View City Council, 7:30 p.m., city hall, 500 Castro St.
Dec. 28
Los Altos Traffic Commission, 7 p.m., city hall, 1 […]

Knitters Unite: A full day of events at ‘Thread’

The new downtown knitting store Full Thread Ahead, 169 Main St., will host a full day of events on Dec. 28.

The day features a fashion show at noon. Visitors can sample an array of threads then test the advantages of circular and straight needles. By late afternoon, relax and knit with expert knitter Jonelle Raffino.

Pet of the Week

Three young, male guinea pigs await adoption at the animal shelter. Guinea pigs make wonderful companions for people of all ages. Come meet them today at Palo Alto Animal Services, 3281 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, 496-5971.

Run, walk and roll into the new year

The Los Altos Recreation Department invites families, friends and neighbors to participate in the 2006 New Year’s Day 5K Fun Run, Walk and Roll. The noncompetitive race begins at 9 a.m. New Year’s Day at the Community Plaza, corner of State and Main streets in downtown Los Altos.

All ages and ability levels are encouraged to run, walk, inline skate, scooter, skateboard or push a stroller 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) through the historic business district of Los Altos. The event is free, and pre-registration is not required. To volunteer or for more information, call Jennifer Weiss at 947-2890.

Holiday fund charities support at-risk youth

Town Crier Holiday Fund donors have pledged $80,000 in matching funds to encourage more to contribute. As of Monday afternoon, fund totals had reached $121,500.

A challenge grant, where each dollar is doubled, is graciously provided by the following: Steve and Michele Kirsch Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Skoll Community Fund, Rambus Inc., Charles and Nan Geschke Foundation, William and Gay Krause Foundation, Los Altos resident Ed Dowd, the Kathleen and Romesh Wadhwani Foundation, and the Everlasting Private Foundation.

El Camino to join county stroke center system set to start up in late January

County officials and El Camino Hospital staff were confident last week that the hospital would pass a milestone on its way to joining other local hospitals in the ranks of primary stroke centers.

A review team from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (Jayco) was scheduled to pick up armfuls of documentation and observe hospital personnel’s new collaborative treatment system for stroke patients last Friday.

The 5 warning signs of stroke

If you see someone exhibiting one of these symptoms, call 911 immediately:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)

Hospital CEO transition, selection process in works

In response to El Camino Hospital CEO Lee Domanico’s recent resignation, Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Edward Bough appointed himself and immediate-past Board Chairman Mark O’Connor to the subcommittee in charge of administrative transition during the search for a new chief executive officer. Bough also appointed himself and Director Wes Alles to the subcommittee in charge of searching for a new CEO.

“We will be meeting to make a recommendation to the full board regarding hospital administration during the interim period and search for a new CEO,” Bough said. “We intend to provide the community and the hospital family with an update on our plans sometime between now and Mr. Domanico’s Jan. 8 departure date.”

After the tsunami: Los Altos Rotary Club performs disaster relief the right way

In the year since the Dec. 26 tsunami in Southeast Asiea, the world has seen many more natural disasters - and disastrous efforts to respond to them. What help is needed? How can we bypass the red tape, the delays and the sticky fingers of multiple government and nongovernmental agencies? In short, how can we, as private citizens, reach across the world and make a positive difference?

The Los Altos Rotary Club (LARC) may have found the key to these questions. The answer: Use the global reach of Rotary’s 32,000 clubs in 166 nations around the world. Combine that global presence with the pervasiveness of Internet technology. Add to that mix some willing hearts, and you have the recipe for extremely effective, people-to-people humanitarian aid.

Cupertino district employees want more

As she presented plaques of appreciation to outgoing Los Altos School District trustees on behalf of the Los Altos Teachers Association, President Cathy Gilliard told the school board last week that the unions’ members “feel respected and treated as professionals.”

“I can’t imagine a better place to work,” she said. “It’s the result of many years of cooperation … and hard work.”

Schools Briefs

Bullis Charter School has a ‘Dream’
The Athens Middle School dance is approaching, and the students are anxious to find someone to go with. Lysander likes Hermia, and Hermia likes him. Helena likes Demetrius, and Demetrius used to like Helena but now likes Hermia. Oberon hears about this and tells Puck to use […]

Schools

Local school boards elected officers to one-year terms and administered the oath of office to new members for four-year terms in their annual organizational meetings this month.

The Los Altos School District bade farewell to three incumbents who chose not to run for re-election: Duane Roberts, who served 14 years on the board; Jay Thomas, who served 12; and Victor Reid III, who served eight. Superintendent Tim Justus swore in Mark Goines, David Luskin and David Pefley Dec. 12. The board elected Margot Harrigan president, Bill Cooper vice president and Goines clerk.

‘Velveteen Rabbit’ takes tea at Loyola

“The Velveteen Rabbit” loves the festive tea that Loyola Elementary second-grade classes host every holiday season after reading the children’s classic. Last week they once again entertained their parents in an unforgettable manner. Here, Natasha Mozer offers pastry to parents and classmates.

Searching for answers

The Los Altos High girls basketball team is off to a 1-8 start, and coach Vern Hubbard is searching for reasons why.

“I have no idea,” he said. “I can’t put my finger on it.”

Markets continue to rise despite distractions

Weathering storms, flu outbreaks and continued higher short-term interest rates, the stock market continues to move higher. Notwithstanding distractions like hurricanes and grandstanding politicians, the stock market hinges on good old-fashioned earnings. Earnings growth for the S&P 500 will likely come in around 15 percent to 16 percent higher than last year - nearly twice the historical average. Low interest rates and worker productivity are helping to fuel the bull market.

One of the most-used measures of stock market valuation is the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E). To derive the ratio, take the stock price, say, $50, and divide it by earnings, say $5, for a total P/E of 10. The P/E for the S&P 500 has been in a trading range of 13 to 17 since the market low in 2002. Based on next year’s earnings forecast, the P/E is nearly 15.5, or right in the middle of the range - neither too hot nor too cold. Profit margins hover around 9 percent, which is historically very high.

Peruvian knitwear store offers locals ‘gold of the Andes’

With its yellow watercolor walls and Tiffany ceiling lamps, Bay Alpaca, the new clothing store in downtown Los Altos, might pass as another upscale boutique. In fact, the clothing is unique not only to Silicon Valley but to the entire country. All its knitwear hails exclusively from Peru - and it’s all made from the South American alpaca, which is related to the llama.

The rich sweaters, posh coats and elegant scarves are spun from various types of alpaca wool - a material finer than most angora and cashmere blends. Some scarves boast traditional Inca designs, and all the clothes have a traditional yet decidedly contemporary flair.

LAVA names former assistant new executive director

The Los Altos Village Association (LAVA) announced Dec. 7 that Nancy Dunaway has been hired as its new executive director, effective Jan. 3.

Dunaway brings a background in association management, event planning, marketing and sales, and is also active in the community. She volunteers at the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival.

Why buyers may be wise to shop for a home this winter

A homebuyer asked recently whether now might be a good time to delay looking for a house. He reasoned that the red-hot real estate market is showing signs of cooling off a bit, so maybe he should wait it out for a while and see if prices level off or even drop in the months ahead.

It’s a reasonable question. But while the markets may shift, the answer to his question remains the same: Sitting on the sidelines until next year may cost rather than save you money in your search for a new home.

Fat 2 Fit

I am fat. I am not an in-the-eye-of-the-beholder kind of fat; I am an empirical fact kind of fat. I am in that place on the slim-to-corpulent continuum where I catch my reflection in a store window and say to myself, “Omigawd. Who is that fat person with my face?”

For most of my adult life, I was a slim person. I went up and down in weight, but a diet here or there could keep me a size 8 or, in really good times, a size 6. I never exercised more than walking, but even haphazardly, that seemed to do the trick.

Lifestyle changes can allay symptoms of menopause

When a woman stops having menstrual periods for one year, she has entered menopause. This means she is no longer in her reproductive years. Most women experience menopause between their mid-40s and late 50s, although 50 is the average age. In some cases, menopause can occur prematurely as the result of surgical removal of the ovaries or certain cancer treatments - such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy of the pelvic or abdominal area.

Perimenopause is the term used to describe the several years of fluctuating hormone levels and symptoms leading up to menopause. During this phase, women typically have longer menstrual cycles and may experience heavier menstrual bleeding, hot flashes, headaches, insomnia, heart palpitations, mood swings, depression, anxiety and irritability. Some women experience few or no symptoms at all.

Psychologist teaches how to thwart stress as it happens

Have you ever sat in rush-hour traffic and just wanted to scream at the world? Have you ever felt tense when the person you are caring for screams at you? What about that annoying coworker who always cuts you off during team meetings?

These are all potentially stressful situations. Many people take steps to reduce the overall tension in their lives - through exercise, yoga, meditation, music, sports or art - but few people are aware of the “in the moment” methods that can help deal with a difficult situation as it unfolds.

Man Booker Prize winner tells ordinary story with extraordinary grace

Irish writer John Banville made the short list for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1989 but lost to Kazuo Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the Day.” This year, Ishiguro stayed on the short list, while Banville claimed top honors for “The Sea” (Picador, 2005), a novel that weaves the coming of age with the coming of death of art historian Max Morden.

“The Sea” is a tale of the ordinary - the slow death to cancer of Morden’s wife, Anna - extraordinarily told. The sea that washes the beach near the village of Ballyless, to which a dream directs Morden after Anna’s death, is at once backdrop, metaphor and a character in the story. Its moods, colors and textures accompany teenage Max as he struggles to gain membership in the baffling world of adults - “The beach at the foot of the hill was a fawn shimmer under indigo. At the seaside, all is narrow horizontals, the world reduced to a few long straight lines pressed between earth and sky.”

Horse whisperer deaf when it comes to stories about people

In some families, the accusation “It’s all your fault” is a running joke used to dissipate accidental criticism. In the Cooper family, it’s serious. Deadly serious.

The Coopers struggle to untangle a family tragedy in “The Divide” (Putnam, 2005) by Nicholas Evans, author of “The Horse Whisperer,” a best seller made into a movie by Robert Redford. Evans’ understanding of horses was the key to that success; horses play a part in the new book, but not a central part. Evans writes well but doesn’t have anything new to say about people.

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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