Better late than never

Last year was not kind to prominent Bay Area athletes over 40. Jerry Rice retired from football after being told he would be a bit player and Barry Bonds missed most of the baseball season with a knee injury.

But for a lesser-known pro around the same age, 2005 was a breakout year. Golfer Jeff Brehaut of Los Altos had his best season on the PGA Tour, finishing 61st on the money list by earning $1.2 million.

Hundreds gather to remember fallen Los Altos snowboarder

Several hundred mourners, including friends, family and community members, packed St. Simon’s Church Feb. 28 for a memorial service honoring Los Altos resident Thomas Reyneri. The 16-year-old Bellarmine College Preparatory student died Feb. 24 in a snowboarding accident after veering off a popular ski trail in Squaw Valley.

The details surrounding his death remain hazy, and so far no witnesses have come forward. A ski patroller, retrieving another person’s snowboard, happened to find Tom roughly 30 minutes after the accident. Somehow he had fallen 8-10 feet from a narrow bridge lined with mesh netting.

Inflation puffs up fire deal

It will cost twice as much to keep the fire engines rolling when 2008 rolls around.

Los Altos’ and Los Altos Hills’ 10-year-old contract with the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District, due for renewal, has been adjusted for a decade of inflation.

Los Altos readies response to future disasters

Old point-to-point technology may rule the airwaves when the next big earthquake or other disaster disrupts Bay Area communications.

Los Altos officials plan to erect a microwave monopole in the civic center for direct communication with other public agencies.

Los Altos Hills could gain $400,000 tax revenue increase

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 last week to endorse the restoration of $4.6 million in tax revenues to four cities, one of them Los Altos Hills. The restoration measure now needs the approval of the California Legislature to go into effect. If approved, the measure could bring as much as a $400,000 increase in property-tax revenue next year.

Until Tuesday, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga, Cupertino and Monte Sereno all received approximately 4 percent of the property tax collected within their communities, while typical cities receive 7 percent. The majority of property-

Hospital leaves possible conflict of interest behind

Deciding to “move on,” the El Camino Hospital Board of Directors last week dropped further scrutiny of a possible conflict of interest on the part of their chairman, agreed to clarify their policy and promised to rebuild trust.

The questions investigated by Vice Chairman David Reeder and Director Mark O’Connor were whether Dr. Edward Bough profited from inside information when his cardiovascular practice bought a 64-slice CT scanner from Siemens Financial Services soon after the hospital bought a 16-slice scanner from the same company, whether running tests on the scanner put his medical practice in competition with the hospital and whether he disclosed the purchase in a timely manner.

Council defers appointment to Planning Commission

It’s back to the drawing board for the remaining appointment to the Los Altos Planning Commission.

Concerned that their private exchanges of opinion on the matter might have violated state law on open meetings, city councilmembers declined last week to award the commission’s empty seat to the Los Altos resident who had won the most votes from them at their previous meeting.

News Briefs

CERT training begins today
Ten openings remain in the Community Emergency Response Team training session that begins today. All ages are encouraged to learn how to help themselves, their families and their neighbors when disaster strikes.
Classes are as follows:
• 6-9 p.m. today, Hillview Community Center, Room 2
• 6-9 p.m. […]

Police Blotter

Former Los Altos man missing for a week
Jason Lamont, 36, son of Carol Lamont of Los Altos, was last seen at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 on Alma Street near N. California Avenue in Palo Alto as he walked to a class at Cubberly Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road.
He has not […]

Editorial

Some of the images from Mardi Gras remind us that Gulf residents still have a long way to go to recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As they continue to pick up the pieces, we need to keep in the forefront that we should do everything we can to be prepared for an emergency. Ours is a more critical mission since we will not have several days’ notice before a big earthquake hits here like the hurricane warnings in the Gulf region.

Last week, the Los Altos City Council met with Police Chief Bob Lacey, a number of city employees and the Citizens Corps Council, the advisory group on emergency preparedness, to get an update on how the city is progressing. In the last year and a half, some key steps have been made to form a response plan that includes ham radio operators, possible shelter sites, responders and a mobile trailer, which contains some necessary supplies. However, much, much more needs to be done.

Letters to the Editor

Commendable stories on troops
It is commendable that the Town Crier published stories of locals among the U.S. troops in Iraq. On a personal level, the stories told us of many good things our troops are doing. Whether you are for or against the war, we need to hear these stories. Many of […]

Road trip

Despite clear, warm skies as I write this, I am in my pajamas with no intention of getting dressed or venturing outdoors today. You see, last night I returned from a fun but exhausting five-day road trip with three 17-year-old boys. I’ve earned my lethargy.

My mission? To give my son and his two friends a glimpse of college life by touring five college campuses in as many days. We stuffed my ten-year-old Honda Odyssey minivan with snacks, bottled water, duffle bags, a clipboard full of Mapquest driving directions, stacks of college campus checklists, permission slips in case - heaven forbid - the boys needed medical attention and the obligatory football for the beach.

A first for ‘Leave It to Beaver’

Until the late fifth century, an ancient Roman fertility rate held during February allowed young men to select the names of virgin girls from boxes who would become their “companions” for the year. In A.D. 497, Pope Galasius, anxious to replace the pagan rite of passage, decided to place names of male and female saints in the boxes. The spiritual “overseer” of this new lottery would be St. Valentine, who, while imprisoned some 200 years earlier, wrote his last love letter to his beloved and signed it, “from your Valentine.”

• The first toilet ever seen on television was on “Leave It to Beaver.”

Obituary Notices

NANCY BURDICK MARSTON
8/10/1928 - 2/24/2006
Passed away on February 24, 2006 at the age of 77. Nancy is survived by her devoted husband of 54 years, Alan; their four children, Dick Marston, Beverly Marston, Brad Marston and Liz Meyer; two daughters-in-law, Linda Marston and Marcie Marston; two sons-in-law, Bill Runyon and […]

Nancy Marston: A connoisseur of art, life

Nancy Marston, a longtime resident of Los Altos who was instrumental in the success of the Los Altos Art Docents program, died Feb. 24 after a long illness. Mrs. Marston was 77.

Mrs. Marston, an accomplished watercolorist, joined the docent program, which supplements the art curriculum of local public schools, in 1970. She served as coordinator of the program for 14 years.

Noteworthies

In her bid to be California’s lieutenant governor in 2006, state Sen. Jackie Speier (D-8th Senate District) will speak at a breakfast at Fremont Hills Country Club in Los Altos Hills 9 a.m. Friday. The event, sponsored by local supporters, is by invitation only.

During her service in the California Legislature, Speier has set a record by sponsoring 300 pieces of legislation signed into law by both Democratic and Republican governors. She authored bills on privacy and consumer protection, child safety, child support enforcement and health care, many of which have been used as templates for national legislation.

Peace Corps mothers share their sons’ stories

When Blach Intermediate School English teachers Cindy Andrews and Carol Raymond talk about their sons - who serve in the Peace Corps - their passion is infectious.

Mike Rau, Raymond’s 23-year-old son, currently works in the health field in Guyana, educating locals about AIDS and tuberculosis prevention. Joe Andrews, Andrews’ son, works as a high school teacher on Falalop, a remote island in Micronesia.

Garden Club reaps pruning tips from master arborist

Cass Turnbull, founder of PlantAmnesty, a non-profit organization that aims to end the “senseless torture and mutilation of shrubs and trees” by establishing quality standards in pruning, shared tips with the Garden Club of Los Altos Feb. 28.

Turnbull, a gardener, landscaper and arborist, began her career nearly 20 years ago in Seattle, armed with a sense of mission and a sense of humor. She used every medium available - press, television, videos and books - to goad, shame and educate the city. “It’s amazing,” she said, “how the press loves a competition for the ugliest tree on the block or the worst piece of pruning on X street.”

Federated Woman’s Club art contest deadline Thursday

The Federated Woman’s Club of Los Altos has scheduled its 12th annual Student Art Contest this month. The deadline for local entries is 3 p.m. Thursday. Students can submit entries at the District Office, 201 Covington Road, Los Altos.

First place winners at each level, first through sixth grade, will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. Winners at each grade level will be presented ribbons and other cash awards. Every participant will receive a certificate of participation.

Pet of the Week

Maybelline is one of more than 60 rabbits found abandoned in a Palo Alto park. She was only a few weeks old when rescued and placed in a foster home. Maybelline is now in need of a permanent residence. To adopt Maybelline, visit Palo Alto Animal Services, 3281 E. Bayshore Road, or call 496-5971.

Calendar

Ongoing
Los Altos Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, 97 Hillview Ave.
Today
Los Altos Hills Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., town hall, 26379 Fremont Road.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors, 7:30 p.m., district offices, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos.
Mountain View Parks and Recreation Commission, […]

LAHS art out of the classroom, into the cafe

In a rare move, students in the art department at Los Altos High School are taking their work outside the confines of the high school to the rest of the community.

More than 100 works by 85 students are on display at Main Street Cafe & Books through March 31, courtesy of the high school’s photography and art clubs. Works include photographs, drawings and paintings.

Cell phone abuse leads to a new line of etiquette

Much has been made of cell phone use and the lack of consideration for others when people use them. Here are some tips for using your cell phone out in public.

1. Lower your voice in public or turn the phone off.

Los Altos Relay For Life plans off and running

Plans for Relay For Life, Los Altos’ annual fund-raising activity for the American Cancer Society, are now well under way. This year’s event is scheduled for June 24-25 at Los Altos High School.

During the event, teams walk in relay fashion around the track at the high school. Last year more than 1,200 walkers participated, according to Jeanne MacVicar, event chairperson, who hopes for increased community involvement this year.

Local women, artists celebrate life after 40 with exhibit, musical to premiere in SF

Los Altos artists Agnes Derbin-Caulfield and Darcy Fowkes have the unusual privilege of being celebrated for their advancing ages, as participants in the “40 x 40″ art exhibit premiering Friday at Pier 39 in San Francisco.

Forty local women will “out” themselves as over-the-hill in this celebration of life after 40, which coincides with the San Francisco premiere of “Menopause The Musical.” Each woman submitted a self-portrait and a 50-word meditation on herself.

Community Briefs

AAUW schedules spring social
The American Association of University Women, Los Altos-Mountain View branch, invites prospective and new members to a spring social and information meeting 7 p.m. March 21.
Attendees will learn about AAUW national and state programs and a wide range of local activities. Membership is open to anyone with a […]

Community

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury John Snow and Cisco Systems chairman of the board John Morgridge visited the Cisco Academy lab, a network technology training program at Foothill College, March 2.

The two leaders witnessed first-hand how Foothill is training Silicon Valley’s next generation of network programmers, and touted the importance of training workers in the latest technologies so they can remain competitive in a global economy.

Schools Briefs

Foothill Physics Olympics Friday
Foothill College students and local high school students are invited to test their knowledge of physics, challenge their creativity and have fun by competing for prizes in the second annual Foothill College Physics Olympics 1 to 5 p.m. Friday in Room 5407 at Foothill College in Los Altos […]

Scholarship to summer gifted program

The Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG) is sponsoring the first annual SIG Essay Contest. The writer of the winning essay receives a full scholarship to SIG’s three-week residential program held this summer at college campuses across the country.

Students must submit an original 500-word essay on: “How can American education improve its preparation of today’s students for tomorrow’s world?” Students in grades 4 through 11 are eligible to participate.

All-girl robotics team in prestigious competition

Hours before it was set to be packed and shipped to competition headquarters at San Jose State University, Girl Scout Troop 2868 tweaked the programming on their basketball-shooting robot for the Silicon Valley FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition.

For six intensive weeks, the team met after school at the NASA/Ames Research Center lab creating a robot that could shoot and collect basketballs. To make the robot work, the girls had to first design the prototype - its appearance and how it would move using motors and electronics.

Big Red Shoe gets the boot at MV nursery school

It looks like a giant wooden shoe and it has sunflowers outside and carpeting inside. There’s a flight of stairs, a tunnel, several windows and dozens of children.

The “Big Red Shoe” has remained a landmark on the grounds of Mountain View Parent Nursery School since shortly after the daycare cooperative opened in 1969. When the school moved, so did the shoe: first from El Monte Avenue to Miramonte Avenue, then to its present location on Bryant Street. It has endured as staff and children came and went.

Hersey honored as California Charter School Conference Educator of Month

The California Charter Schools Conference named Wanny Hersey, superintendent and principal at Bullis Charter School, Educator of the Month for February.

The conference described Hersey as a dynamic leader responsible for mentoring teachers and establishing innovative programs for students. Under her leadership, Bullis scored 973 on its Academic Performance Index in 2005.

Foothill photos focus on faces

Faces of the Bay Area, an exhibit showcasing the work of photography students at Foothill College, runs through March 30 at the Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) at the college.

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. An open reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Thursday in the KCI Gallery.

Simitian’s bill may equalize schools funding

State Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) has introduced SB 1358, which allocates $200 million annually to equalize funding for K-12 schools in low-wealth, underfunded districts across California. The bill is sponsored by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and jointly authored by Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley).

“I’m pleased to see the governor step forward this year to propose funds for our low-wealth school districts,” Simitian said. “This is a fundamental issue of fairness. Disparities in funding mean disparities in opportunities for student success. That has to change.”

Former coach files suit against college

Vilmar “Vava” Marques, former men’s soccer coach at Foothill College, filed a wrongful termination suit in the Santa Clara County Superior Court against the college Feb. 10.

Marques’ dispute followed a 2003 soccer game in which Brazilian and Mexican members of the Foothill soccer team were allegedly subjected to racial slurs from the opposing team and fans.

MVHS teen honored for local leadership

Mountain View High School sophomore Nikki Pritchard was honored March 1 at Project Cornerstone’s Asset Champions Breakfast.

Project Cornerstone, a regional non-profit dedicated to building a network of support around community youth, honored teens and adults who have contributed to youth programming.

Pinewood escapes with win

Someone probably told you there would be games like this.

A game in which your team struggles to put the ball in the basket or even hold on to it. A day when the airballs outnumber the 3-pointers and the turnover total is three times that of the assists.

Pinewood boys run out of upset specials in semis

The final five seconds punctuated what went wrong for Pinewood School in the second half of last week’s Central Coast Section Division V boys basketball semifinal.

Instead of getting off a potentially game-tying 3-pointer, the 11th-seeded Panthers made another turnover that led to another easy basket for No. 2 Valley Christian-Dublin. Pinewood’s Michel Nofal got stripped from behind and Tyler Johnson made a layup at the buzzer to give the Vikings a 42-37 victory March 1 at De Anza College.

Los Altos remains winless in baseball

That first win of the season still eludes the Los Altos High baseball team.

The Eagles lost 10-4 to visiting Monterey Saturday in the Brother Wally Ryan Tournament, despite out-hitting their opponent 11-9. Los Altos was done in by walks and a huge second inning by the Toreadores (5-2) on a cold and blustery day.

Tomorrow’s energy sources may be far from fossil fuels

Remember, “Brave New World” or “The Times They Are A-Changin’” or even “The Next Big Thing?” What about a red-haired Annie belting, “Tomorrow, You’re Always a Day Away”?

Well, if tomorrow ever does get here, it will likely bring some radical changes in the energy and transportation arenas. If your preferred method of travel is to have Scotty beam you up to the Starship Enterprise, you may be singing “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” but for the rest of us, alternate sources of energy may play a key role in transportation and energy production overall.

Los Altos resident opens superstore catering to needs of pregnant women

Los Altos resident Dorothy Goor says help is on the way for new and expectant mothers. Today marks the beginning of her tenure as director of education and services of the Palo Alto branch of DayOne Center, which opens Thursday at Town & Country Village.

“It’s a one-stop concept,” said Goor. “We are trying to make life as easy for parents as possible.”

Green Cuisine

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, one tradition seems to be changing.

“It’s just not cool to drink Guinness any more,” said James Maltby, owner of Maltby’s Restaurant and Tavern in Los Altos.

Baking Around the World

It seems logical to start with England in a tour of the baking world. We all speak the queen’s English, and the breads and desserts are part of our colonial history.

The breads of England and their names are inseparable from their past, extending back thousands of years to the ancient Saxons and Celts. After conquering a part of France in medieval times, the British retain a French fondness for butter and cream.

Let’s revisit those past wine predictions

Six years ago I suggested you run out and buy your champagne and sparkling wines early to avoid disappointment by a millenium shortage. Producers brought extra product to the market to avoid such a shortfall.

Four years later, I was sure the glassy-winged sharpshooter was going to devastate our vineyards. In the end, stepped-up surveillance and detection has prevented any serious infestations.

Guide lists fast food fat, calories

Hidden calories and sky-high fat in fast food are the downfall of many a diet. To help people avoid the hidden fats in fast food, Camino Medical Group has created a “Pocket Guide to Eating Out.”

The guide surveys Starbucks, McDonalds, Subway, Jamba Juice, Taco Bell and Jack in the Box and offers general suggestions for Chinese, Mexican and Indian cuisine. It also features a snack list. Popular items are listed with their calorie and fat counts. Each segment has “Try These” suggestions, “Limit These” alerts and tips for skipping other high calorie items.

Where there’s a way, there’s a will

I said, “I’m going to try to do that ‘WillMaker’ thing today. I’m going to have to ask you some questions.”

He said, “If I’m dead, you get it.”

Books Briefs

Library book group discusses ‘Life of Pi’
The Wednesday evening book group is scheduled to meet 7:30-9 p.m. March 15 in the small conference room at the Los Altos main library.
The group will discuss Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi,” winner of the 2002 Mann Booker Prize for Fiction.
The library is […]

City of Springs bridges past to present

On the ninth moon of the Chinese calendar, October, the twilight of the year, our American tour group of 15 arrived in the ancient Chinese city of Jinan. Today it is called the City of Springs, with waters sparkling everywhere from its more than 100 bubbling natural springs.

Jinan, 218 miles south of Beijing, and the capital of Shandong Province, started life as a walled town 2,600 years ago. Today its 1.07 million people live in a city with a modern look - clean, wide streets and high-rise buildings.

CSA, church officials honoring Alpha Omega shelter program

Today, representatives from local churches will celebrate the end of one era and the beginning of a new one as they work with the Community Services Agency (CSA) and Santa Clara County social services to end homelessness.

At 5 p.m., church members will gather at Los Altos United Methodist Church to commemorate the Alpha Omega shelter program, which housed homeless residents at 15 local churches for 16 years. CSA discontinued the program as organizers transition Alpha Omega from an emegency shelter to a case management program.

Prayer breakfast speakers mixing faith with business

Silicon Valley Prayer Breakfast, formerly called the Los Altos Community Prayer Breakfast, features speakers Kim Woody and John Sage at the 12th annual event, scheduled for 7-8:30 a.m., March 30 at Marriott Santa Clara.

This year’s theme, “Finding Purpose in Your Life,” features two speakers who will talk about how they found significance through faith and their work.

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