News

Stoney and Jan Edwards aren’t spending their retirement years lounging around the house in front of the tube. They’ve been a bit more active - like exploring the far reaches of the Arctic photographing leaping polar bears, and traversing African plains to capture on film charging elephants and lions on the hunt.

Cameras in hand, the longtime Los Altos residents have been exploring nature’s wonders all over the world since 1993, from spectacular underground caves in southern Chile to the abundant wildlife of Botswana in Africa. In fact, it was famed wildlife photographer Frans Lanting’s book, “Okavango: Africa’s Last Eden,” that inspired the Edwardses to undertake their photography adventures.

New Safeway hangs on roof

A basement garage is out of the picture for the Safeway in downtown Los Altos. Representatives of the grocery chain said Monday that it is rooftop parking or nothing but a spruce up for 160 First St.

If Safeway wins approval for the roof, the store will close for an estimated 12-15 months of construction. Otherwise, the company will probably spend about $3 million to make the present store more attractive - painting and replacing tile, architect Richard Zlatunich said.

El Camino Hospital construction faces further delays

Significant, statewide increases in construction costs reflected in bids assessed earlier this month have delayed construction of the new code-compliant El Camino Hospital another month.

Ken King, vice president for facilities services, said Friday, “We’re still analyzing everything we’ve been given to date, so we don’t have all the impacts sorted out. We had originally planned to start construction next month, but now the start will be delayed at least one month.”

Gay Pride Day in Los Altos deflected by new policy

The mayor said he didn’t want to hear the request again. The mayor pro tem promised to approve it next year. And the Los Altos City Council last week narrowly passed a policy to deflect local students’ annual petition for a Gay Pride Day.

Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Cole and Councilwoman Val Carpenter dissented from the three-member majority that approved an explicit prohibition of a Gay Pride Day but, at Carpenter’s request, also restored the prohibition of sexual discrimination that had been deleted from the new proposal.

Police Blotter

Weapons Violation
Feb. 14, 1:18 a.m., I-280 and Foothill Expressway: traffic stop, registration 6-mos. in arrears, weapon found in car.
Feb. 15, 12:15 a.m., 2230 Homestead Court: Assault with deadly force or weapon.
Grand Theft
Feb. 13, 11:48 a.m., 1335 Mc-
Kenzie Ave.: UPS package taken from porch, reported month after theft.
[…]

LAH reviews conflicts of interest

The Los Altos Hills City Council continues to wrestle with the problem of conflicts of interest on Westwind Barn issues. The town has already sent one query to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and has another in the works.

As a neighbor within 500 feet of the barn who might benefit financially from changes to the property, Councilman Dean Warshawsky has recused himself from barn-related votes since 2003.

Los Altos Public Works helps explain new recycling regulations

Under California’s Universal Waste Rule, the Department of Toxic Substance Control has regulated the disposal of hazardous materials for businesses since 2000. A four-year exemption for households and small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) expired Feb. 8.

Hazardous waste products, listed below, must now be separated from regular household trash and taken to special sites for recycling or safe disposal.

Resident learns a hard lesson about speeding

I got caught speeding on Cuesta Drive. I didn’t mean to - speed, that is. I’ve seen residents’ complaints in the Town Crier and heard them at city council meetings over the years, and I don’t blame them a bit. But there I was, not paying attention on a straight, empty street, and when the motorcycle cop pulled me over, I had no excuse. The speed limit in a residential area is 25 mph, and I was doing 38. He gave me a ticket. That was on Sept. 15.

On Oct. 28, a “Courtesy Notice” arrived in the mail listing my options. I could pay a fine of $159 and have the violation on my record, which would increase my insurance premiums, I could go to court and argue, also for $159, or I could go to traffic school. I chose traffic school for $173. Attending in person for a whole day or doing it on the computer would set me back an additional $33 registration fee. I opted for the computer, signed up and paid the fee to register.

The ‘Not Too Sweet’ bakery

My side of the family judges desserts principally by sugar content. Any cookie, pie or cake will get heads to nod in approval when a taster murmurs, “Hmmm, not too sweet.” The corresponding thumbs-down pronouncement is invariably, “Too sweet!” and is accompanied by a grimace or a puckered face and a gentle but resolute shoving away of the offensive piece of candy or dish of ice cream. My mother is a bona fide dessert psychic. She can size up suspect confections in bakery showcases, and with a disapproving frown she might note, “Looks sweet,” which basically means she is walking out the door without a purchase.

This drives my daughter crazy. (She resembles the other side of the family, which adores all things sugar and whose membership includes someone I have actually witnessed eating maple syrup all by itself just because it was there.) She complains, “That’s the only thing your family ever cares about! Like it doesn’t even matter if it tastes really good; it just matters if it’s too sweet or not. Why do you guys even bother with dessert!”

Letters to the Editor

Mayor defends council position on tolerance
Los Altos is a wonderful community tolerant and respectful of various religions, races, political persuasions and sexual orientations. In 2004, the entire city council, including myself, supported declaring June 7, 2004, as a Day of Tolerance. We all deeply felt the importance of tolerance and respect toward […]

Dan Nyberg, son of Town Crier publisher, remembered as beloved family man, co-worker

Dan Nyberg was a dedicated family man and dependable co-worker whose shy, winning smile and calm demeanor endeared him to many. The epitome of the nice guy, Dan was always conscientious and considerate of others.

Dan, the eldest son of Town Crier publisher Paul Nyberg and stepson of Liz Nyberg, died Feb. 15 after a long battle with cancer. He was 47.

Michelle Haley, Jimmy Smith

Michelle Haley and Jimmy Smith were married Oct. 8 at The Chateau in Incline at Lake Tahoe.

The bride is the daughter of Barbara and Mike Haley of Los Altos. She graduated from Los Altos High School, UC Santa Barbara and Samuel Merritt College, where she received a master’s degree in occupational therapy.

Jennifer Ullman, Steven Bull

Jennifer Ullman and Steven Bull have announced their engagement to be married March 18 in Pleasanton. Their reception will follow at the Palm Event Center in the Vineyard.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Mike and Sandy Ullman of Los Altos. She graduated from Los Altos High School and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from California State Polytechnic University. She is employed at Cisco Systems as a business operations manager.

Artists capture beauty of Cuesta Annex

A little paint, a lot of enthusiasm and an abundance of natural beauty - that is what 30 local artists experienced Feb. 11 at the “Budding Artists - Budding Trees” event at the Cuesta Park Annex in Mountain View.

Save Open Space Mountain View, a group of residents united to preserve the open space, sponsored the painting event. The annex is a city-owned parcel of natural open space adjacent to Cuesta Park on Cuesta Drive between Miramonte Avenue and Grant Road.

Community Briefs

‘Quilts Through Time’
Kathy Oderio, a fourth-generation quilter who has taught, judged and appraised quilts for many years, will discuss and display “Quilts Through Time” 7:30 tonight in the program room of the Los Altos library, 13 S. San Antonio Road. Oderio organized the current quilt exhibit at the library. The discussion is […]

Pet of the Week

Ricky and Lucy, brother and sister, have lived at the shelter for six months and need a loving home together. The 8-year-old cats were left behind when their owner moved away. Meet them at Palo Alto Animal Services, 3281 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, 496-5971.

Calendar

Today
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors, 7:30 p.m., district offices, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos.
Monday
Los Altos Historical Commission, 7 p.m., city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
Tuesday
Los Altos City Council, 7 p.m., city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
Mountain View City Council, 7:30 […]

Help wanted

To help patients and visitors navigate amid ongoing construction, the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary seeks 50 volunteers for its new Auxiliary Hospital Guide Program. Volunteer shifts are 8-11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. once a week. Orientation and training are provided, and volunteers benefit from free access to hospital resources, including classes offered through the education department.

El Camino Hospital has also instituted a number of other service improvements, including free valet parking, a parking lot shuttle service, new hospital maps and new signage.

LA’s Packard Foundation provides grant for EV’s Baylands building restoration

Boosted by a grant from Los Altos-based David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Environmental Volunteers (EV) nature education organization has raised $1.57 million toward its $2 million goal for renovating the Lucie Stern Maritime Center at the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve.

The non-profit EV group aims to restore the historic Birge Clark building as its headquarters and for use as a community “eco-center” - a place that nurtures the community’s interest in, knowledge about and respect for the environment.

‘Rise of Silicon Valley’ focus of computer museum talk

The legacy of the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory and the origins of the semiconductor industry in Silicon Valley will be explored in a panel discussion at the Computer History Museum Monday. “The Rise of Silicon Valley: From Shockley Labs to Fairchild Semiconductor” is presented jointly by the Computer History Museum and SEMI.

Panelists include Jim Gibbons, Jay Last, Hans Queisser and Harry Sello, scientists who worked at Shockley in the late 1950s and early 1960s and went on to play leading roles in the semiconductor industry. The panel moderator will be science historian Michael Riordan, adjunct professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and co-author of the book “Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age.”

Author Greer charms at LAHS Writers Week

Author Andrew Sean Greer charmed the audience at Los Altos High School Thursday night as he read from his novel “Confessions of Max Tivoli” (Picador, 2005).

In Greer’s novel, Max is aging backward; he was born with the body of a 70-year-old man but the mind of an infant. Greer read a section wherein Max, then 17 but looking 53, is in love with Alice but is seduced by her mother.

Pinewood hosts award-winning composer

Pinewood School in Los Altos Hills recently hosted composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who has won both Academy and Grammy awards for his works. His current musical, “Wicked,” plays to sold-out audiences on Broadway nightly.

Schwartz attended a luncheon with members of the administration and fine arts department, answered students’ questions in the theater and spent time with high-school students who were rehearsing a performance of one of his plays, “Working.” Schwartz critiqued the students’ performances and offered insight on the background and emotions that inspired the songs and characters.

Schools

A crowd of nearly 120 students, staff and community members gathered in an outdoor tent at Foothill College Thursday to listen to “The ‘N’ Word: A Message of Madness,” a lecture given by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr.

The featured talk was part of Foothill’s programming for Black History Month, which continues through the end of February. While the majority of the month’s events highlighted African-American achievement, Moore addressed a controversial, taboo and often incendiary topic.

Michele Baer, Ali Di Cello February Students of the Month

The Los Altos High School Student of the Month for January is senior Michele Baer. Michele complements outstanding scholarship with diverse extracurricular activities.

As a junior, she received the Book Award for English from Yale University. She attended the Congressional Youth Leadership Council and is president of the National Honor Society,

Schools Briefs

LASD receives international award for 2005-2006 budget
The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) presented its Meritorious Budget Award to the Los Altos School District for the sixth consecutive year.
LASD was recognized for its excellence in the preparation and issuance of a 2005-2006 school system annual budget.
LASD is one of […]

St. Francis girls advance in CCS soccer playoffs

Entering its Central Coast Section opener versus Westmont, the St. Francis High girls soccer team knew a good start would be essential to fulfilling its dream of winning the Division II title.

Idle for a week, the host Lancers wanted to shake off the rust and get into a groove early. They did both in beating the Warriors 3-0 Feb. 15 to advance to last Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Federal Reserve Board welcomes new chief

After almost two decades, the Federal Reserve Board has a new chief, Ben Bernanke. Former chairman Alan Greenspan’s name was synonymous with government policy, money and interest rates. Even those unfamiliar with the Federal Reserve knew Greenspan’s name.

Greenspan perfected the psychological chess game with Wall Street and the financial community. He would literally “talk down” - or sometimes “talk up” - interest rates. He was famous for signaling the direction and sentiment of the Fed, with market players anticipating the Fed’s next move. Chairman Bernanke will have a different style, and Fed watchers will learn to read his nuances. It should be fun to see unfold.

South Bay enjoying a ‘Goldilocks’ housing market

After several years of what can best be described as a white-hot sellers’ market for residential real estate, the South Bay housing market is finally starting to come back to a more normal, balanced state. To paraphrase Goldilocks, it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold. And frankly, that’s just right for both buyers and sellers.

Home listings have gradually started to rise, and the stratospheric increases in sales prices are beginning to level off, although we’re still seeing double-digit appreciation in many parts of Santa Clara County. It’s safe to say that the pendulum is swinging back toward center between a buyers’ and sellers’ market, and that’s a very healthy sign for the South Bay housing market.

A winning remodel

When Elsie and Daniel Kirchhofer decided to do a full-scale remodeling of their oddly shaped Los Altos home, they faced a challenge: how to create a space that was airy and open but also retained a quaint, cottage feel.

Set on a long driveway, their original one-story house dated back to 1923. Its unusual origins accounted for the peculiar floor plan. According to neighbors, the home came from the top of a larger two-story house that was split in two, and the top story plopped down in an adjacent lot.

Course offers tips for room redesign

Foothill-De Anza Community Education is offering the class “Room Re-design: Take Your Home from Blah to Beautiful in 8 Hours or Less,” 7-9 p.m. March 1 at Foothill College, room 6404, 12345 S. El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.

Participants will learn how to redecorate their homes without buying new furnishings, how to create a new floor plan, how to balance color in each room and how to accessorize. In two short hours participants will receive practical information that can transform a home.

Mulching and careful watering reap beauty

If I had to do just one thing to improve any garden, I’d add mulch.

Mulch protects the soil and fosters a larger and more diverse population of underground life. The worms, bacteria and fungi that do all the work underground need water, nutrients, air and moderate temperatures. Mulch provides all of these: It holds in moisture, which keeps your water bills lower; it leaches nutrients as water trickles down through it; it slowly adds organic matter and helps loosen compacted clay soils, adding air spaces; and it keeps the soil warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Stanford historic homes tour set for April

The Stanford Historical Society will open four historic houses and gardens 1-4 p.m. April 30 in a show of early residential architecture on campus.

The tour will include San Juan subdivision, built from 1909 to 1925 for some of the university’s earliest faculty members. The tour also will feature unusual collections by present owners of the tour homes.

Brokers’ Web site lets the buyer compare

Real estate brokerage iGenHome has raised the bar on searchable information for Santa Clara and San Mateo county home buyers with a Web site that parses market, crime and demographic statistics by zip code.

The site, www.iGenHome.com, uses data from the U.S. Census, FBI crime reports, the multiple listing service and state Department of Education to allow potential buyers to compare neighborhoods and schools as well as homes when they’re looking for new places to live.

‘High-end’ properties sold well last month

There’s no housing bubble in the Los Altos area. Last month, a number of “high-end” properties were sold despite national concern about rising interest rates putting a damper on the market.

“This is unusually high activity for this price band and time of year,” said Connie Miller, broker associate for Alain Pinel Realtors.

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

Manon learns you can’t take it with you in excellent West Bay Opera production

The opening night of West Bay Opera’s “Manon Lescaut” looked at first like another evening of portly tenors, but pleasing voices, quick pacing, attractive sets and the doppelganger of the young Sam Ramey made going out on a cold, wet night worthwhile.

And I want to go on record right now as saying that the singers who portrayed the siblings Lescaut have a bright future.