How SF quake shook up Los Altos’ fate

Two independent plans capable of shaping Los Altos’ future were proceeding simultaneously when the great San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906, rocked the Bay Area. One plan emerged unscathed, and the scattering of orchards near the new train line became the quiet town of Los Altos.

Plans were well under way to make Los Altos a college town before the quake shook things loose. Santa Clara University had bought 250 acres of land from the Hill Ranch estate on which to build a new college to be named in honor of St. Ignatious of Loyola. To finance the project, they garnered pledges from faithful Catholics as far away as San Francisco.

Redistricting negotiations point to Bullis reopening

In an attempt to forgo redistricting, negotiations are under way to provide Los Altos Hills with a community-based public school involving the Bullis Charter School.

The 15-member committee, including officials from the Los Altos Hills City Council and board members from Los Altos, Palo Alto Unified and Mountain View-Los Altos Union High school districts and the Bullis Charter School, met April 5 to find a constructive alternative to redistricting.

Labor commission to hear Westwind Barn case involving ranch hands

Alleged wages and hours violations at Westwind Barn, filed by barn ranch hands with the state labor commission this winter, are scheduled for a preliminary hearing next week.

The labor standards enforcement division of the California Department of Industrial Relations has scheduled a meeting Monday to assess the alleged labor code violations against Friends of Westwind Barn.

Settlement, tighter belt ahead for El Camino Hospital

Approving a higher budget of $480 million and construction to begin “as soon as possible,” leaders of El Camino Hospital pushed the long-delayed replacement hospital project one step closer to completion last week. They are already poised for the next step: settling the lawsuit brought by Saratoga lawyer Aaron Katz.

“We’re taking on a debt load we’ve not had,” board Vice Chairman Dave Reeder said last week. “We can do it, but it won’t be easy. … If we can’t get a settlement in the Katz suit, … it’s back to the drawing board.”

Water district breaks ground for operations center in LAH

The Purissima Hills Water District broke ground on a new operations center last Wednesday at its site adjacent to the Los Altos Hills Town Hall. The 2,000-square-foot center will replace an 850-square-foot building on the same site that has housed the water district since 1962.

The structure will have more office space, an engineering room, a separate room for machinery and a conference room. Meetings of the district board historically have been held in the small office space of the old building.

Police Blotter

Burglary
April 3, 3:47 p.m., Covington and Springer roads: computer taken from vehicle.
April 6, 6:05 p.m., 2100 block of Grant Road: Medications taken from Albertsons.
April 8, 12:56 p.m., 300 block of Quinnhill Ave.: jewelry taken from BMW, window broken.
Theft
April 3, 11:03 a.m., 600 block of Linden Ave.: change […]

News Briefs

LAH considers further solar ordinance
In a further bid to support energy conservation in Los Altos Hills, the city council will evaluate an ordinance amendment to promote solar panels April 27.
The amendment would approve a 500-square-foot maximum development area exemption for solar panel installation.
At present, solar arrays are among the development projects […]

Comment

Gay Pride letter offensive
Barrett McGrath’s letter (April 12) is more of an embarrassment to the people of Los Altos than the city council’s actual decision to ban a particular group’s “day.”
First of all, his attempt to draw a parallel between rising building costs and the endorsement of basic human rights is utterly […]

Full Circles

For the most part, the children in the sixth-grade orchestra looked very tidy. Boys sported pressed shirts and belted slacks. Girls wore patent leather and velvet. Our own boy, though, a half-head taller than the other musicians, was all gangly with his shirt hanging out and had a nasty case of bedhead I hadn’t noticed that morning.

Once the kids started playing, however, our child stood out for another reason. When his violin bow went up, all the others went down. When he zigged, everyone else zagged. He claimed to know “Perpetual Motion Holiday,” but we were skeptical.

Local Elks donate hospital funds

COURTESY OF DOM GANOFANO

Members of the Palo Alto Elks Lodge No. 1471 donated $75,000 to the Palo Alto Veterans

Anniversary & Engagement

Doris Elder and Floyd Jorgenson
Floyd N. and Doris Elder Jorgenson celebrated their 70th wedding at the Los Altos home of Mayor Ron Packard and his wife Crystal. They were married April 3, 1936, in Oakland.
The Jorgensons have five children: Floyd T. Jorgenson of Redlands; Valerie and her husband Richard Anderson of […]

Magic garden on Dori Lane - still nourishing the soil and soul

When Los Altos Hills counts the names of its significant citizen-contributors, organic horticulturalist Craig Murray’s will be among the first.

For the past 16 years the young bachelor has tended and extended his “field of dreams” to grow the finest and most nutritious produce available. Proof of his effectiveness is evident in the grateful consumers who make their way to his Dori Lane garden to discover their quest for produce wholly free of harmful pesticides has been rewarded.

ABC News correspondent Bettina Gregory offers an unofficial view at LA Morning Forum

Bettina Gregory told the Morning Forum of Los Altos audience April 4 that she originally wanted to write fiction, but her more than 25 years in the news business has convinced her that nothing can match the truth. In fact, Gregory stressed, the reporter’s job is always and only to report the truth, but sometimes it is hard to determine what the truth is.

Gregory, a correspondent for ABC News, recalled her first big story - the 1975 case of Karen Ann Quinlan, the first national “right to die” controversy, which in many ways resembled the recent Terry Schiavo case. Quinlan lapsed into a coma after ingesting a tranquilizer and alcohol at a party. After doctors determined that she was in a permanent vegetative state with no hope of recovery, her parents sued to have her respirator disconnected.

Mtn. View library seeks volunteers

Friends of the Mountain View Public Library, which provides funds for library programs and equipment not covered by the city’s budget, is seeking volunteers.

Friends of the Library raises money by sponsoring book sales, running a shop in the library lobby, and maintaining a Web site for selling books online.

Community Briefs

Hospital foundation cooking with gala
Annual egg hunt set for Saturday
Newcomers Club hosts coffee

Wildlife Rescue in Palo Alto needs volunteers to help care for more than 2,000 injured and orphaned animals every year.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to commit to four to five hours per week […]

Calendar

Ongoing
Los Altos Senior Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 97 Hillview Ave.
Thursday
The Los Altos Hills City Council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 27.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors, 7:30 p.m., district offices, […]

LA wildlife network honors actress-model Rossellini

Los Altos-based Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) board member Isabella Rossellini and WCN partner Iain Douglas-Hamilton, founder of Save the Elephants (STE), have been honored for their work in preserving endangered animals.

Rossellini and Douglas-Hamilton were among leading wildlife advocates recognized by the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund with $100,000 grants to continue their efforts in wildlife conservation.

Native plant sale scheduled for May 6 at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills

Discover the possibilities of native plants in your garden at the Native Plant Sale at Hidden Villa Ranch in Los Altos Hills May 6.

The sale is scheduled 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hidden Villa Ranch, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. The ranch is 2 miles west of the I-280 Moody/El Monte Road exit. Parking is free.

Experts weigh impact of health-care changes

The League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area has scheduled a forum of experts to explore how health-care reform might affect people’s lives 7 p.m., April 25, at Graham Middle School, 1175 Castro St., Mountain View.

California and several other states are considering universal health care. Two bills before the state senate, S.B. 840 and S.B. 1784, set up a “single payer” system where a government-run organization would collect all health-care fees and pay out costs. The debate centers on how the state would pay for the plan, and how the change would affect hospitals, doctors and families.

MVLA superintendent search narrowed

The search for a new superintendent for the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District narrowed this month to three candidates.

The MV-LAUHSD Board of Trustees met with the applicants for the superintendent’s position April 8 and 9. Early on Saturday, they conducted a one-hour interview with each of the potential superintendents based on scripted questions. After evaluating the results, the board will recall the candidate of their choice.

Blach student places second at state geography bee

Joshua Cohen, a seventh-grader from Blach Intermediate School, placed second in the state geography bee held in Sacramento. More than 500,000 students from 2,000 schools compete in the competition, and the top 100 travel to the state competition in Sacramento every year.

The students begin the competition at the classroom level, with the class winners advancing to the school final. The top student from each of the 2,000 schools then takes a written exam, with the top 100 scores advancing to the state competition, which was held March 31.

Pinewood School hosts Carnivale auction

Pinewood School in Los Altos held its fourth annual auction at the Crowne Plaza Cabaña in March, raising a record-breaking $175,000.

The proceeds will benefit the school’s teachers’ retirement fund. “The more benefits we can offer our teachers, the more likely we will keep the high caliber of teachers we have - which makes Pinewood a great place to get an education,” said Scott Riches, president of Pinewood. “Our parents are very supportive, based on the bidding.”

School Briefs

LAH group invites residents to redistricting forum
Los Altos Hills Citizens Against Redistricting has scheduled a public meeting 7-8:30 p.m. April 24 in the Bullis-Purissima Elementary School multipurpose room to address residents’ questions and concerns about the city council’s recent vote to redistrict Los Altos Hills into a separate school district.
Meeting topics include […]

Local students to build homes in Mexico

Nearly 40 high school students from Los Altos and Los Altos Hills will be among 560 students and volunteer adult leaders traveling to Tijuana, Mexico, for a week in April for The King’s Academy’s (TKA) 14th Annual Mexico Servant Safari.

The school, located in Sunnyvale, has built 140 homes over the past 14 years for impoverished families who previously lived in makeshift shacks without plumbing.

Montclaire hosts circus fun

Montclaire Elementary School was transformed into the Magnificent Montclaire Circus for the school’s 13th annual walkathon on April 1.

Eighty-six percent of Montclaire Elementary School students walked. An additional 60 guest walkers also registered and joined the fun.

MVHS alumni provide aid to New Orleans

Sifting through months-old black mold, taking out walls and insulation, sharing five showers among 400 people and dealing with cockroaches and ruined homes is not the way typical college students spend their spring break. But Los Altos residents Lizzie Paulsen and Stephanie Chan decided to dedicate their vacation to helping New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward.

The former Mountain View High School students traveled with the California Public Interest Group of UC Riverside, where Chan attends school. Once the group of about 10 students arrived, they met with Common Grounds, a community-initiated volunteer organization that offers assistance, mutual aid and support to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

For sports, all the rain is a pain

When Margareth Lundh awoke to the pitter-patter of rain early last week, she didn’t want to get out of bed. Another day of rain would mean another day of rainouts, which would mean another day of rescheduling games.

“It was the first day in 20 years I didn’t want to come to work,” said Lundh, administrative assistant in St. Francis High’s athletic department. “I can’t keep on top of it. There’s reschedules for the reschedules.”

From all-purpose shoes to widescreen TVs, good investments pay dividends

OK, let’s really talk investing this week. My mother was an extraordinary investor. I remember the time she walked into the house and announced she had invested in a new pair of shoes. These were not regular run-of-the-mill shoes. No, because they could be used for both work and evening. Not only that, the high-quality craftsmanship would provide many years of wear.

She feverishly took them out of the box, slipped them on her feet and modeled them for us. I had to admit, they looked good. These shoes were a good investment, I thought. My dad carefully looked up and asked, “Do they pay dividends?” You see, my dad was one of those boring practical people who thought investments should advance your monetary standing. Obviously, he was old fashioned.

From soccer mom to Wall Street analyst: New York designer’s shoes score in LA

Whether you’re sashaying down a bustling New York street Carrie Bradshaw-style or demurely socializing at a local charity gala, Bettye Muller believes shoes can playfully mirror your personality.

“My shoes are like Hitchcock blondes. Like Kim Novak and Grace Kelly, they have a distinct look that is mysterious and beautiful. Each one tells a story,” said the New York shoe designer. Muller hosted her second West Coast trunk show Thursday at downtown clothing and shoe store Crimson Mim.

Yerba Mate

In South America, there has long been a custom shared among friends and family at social gatherings. A hollowed out gourd full of a tea-like beverage is passed around from person to person to drink from through a straw. It is believed that all those who drink from it share a bond, as well as a mutual form of acceptance. “This is known as the circle of friendship,” said Ricardo Avalos.

Avalos, born and raised in Paraguay, hopes to continue this tradition in the Bay Area and the rest of America. He is the CEO of Canopy Foods, LLC, a Los Altos-based company that manufactures Jerovia, its own brand of yerba mate, the herbal beverage consumed regularly in South America.

Savory breads decorate holiday table

Baking is most popular during holiday time, and that holds true for Easter and Passover. Holiday breads and desserts are part of a precious heritage that now more than ever families hope to create and maintain. It was my early memory of Swedish breads that inspired me to try baking. I could not buy Vort Limpa, the orange-flavored rye of my childhood, so I had to learn to make it.

I never remembered my mother making this bread, but my great-aunt assured me that it was her favorite when I was only a toddler. To my amazement, she produced the recipe in my mother’s hand, now too faded to read anything but “orange, caraway and molasses.”

Costco’s Kirkland label is treasure for the price

While playing golf recently, I was informed of a recent Cabernet taste-off between an unnamed $100 bottle of Bordeaux and a $17.99 bottle of Kirkland Signature Cabernet. You know where this is going: The Kirkland won hands down!

I had to taste for myself, so I hustled down to Costco and bought the 2002 Alexander Valley Cabernet. It was delicious and a terrific bargain. I needed to know more, so I contacted the bottler, the Winery Exchange in Santa Rosa.

McEwan’s experiment in the ordinary fails

British author Ian McEwan’s latest novel, “Saturday” (Doubleday, 2005), is a curious experiment in understatement.

There is nothing special about the protagonist Henry Perowne other than the fact that he is a neurosurgeon and nothing special about his Saturday other than the fact that McEwan has written 300 pages about it.

New cookbook from CIA is ‘Grilling’

I grilled marinated shrimp the first time I cooked for my then-future husband, and he has been hanging around ever since. “Grilling” by the Culinary Institute of America (Lebhar-Friedman Books, 2006) offers many ideas for foods to grill; I decided to try the shrimp.

It was delicious.

Books Brief

Mystery authors to visit Linden Tree
Claudia Mauner and Elisa Smalley, authors of “Zoe Sophia in New York: The Mystery of the Pink Phoenix Papers” (Chronicle Books, 2006), are scheduled to speak 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. May 10 at Linden Tree Children’s Recordings & Books, 170 State St., Los Altos.
Mauner’s daughter, Zoe Sophia, […]

Silicon Valley Prayer Breakfast audience

The sold-out audience for the Silicon Valley Prayer Breakfast on March 30 was captivated by the inspirational talks of Kim Woody of Jeremiah’s Promise and John Sage of Pura Vida Coffee. The theme of the event was “Finding a Purpose in Your Life.”

Through prayer and experience, Woody found her purpose. A turning point came at a church camp where, as a volunteer, she encountered a foster child who had never experienced love.

Spiritual Life Briefs

Church addresses parenting questions
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 E. Charleston Road, is exploring “Parenting in a Liberal Religion,” a series of talks designed to support parents in their spiritual and everyday challenges, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. most Sundays through June 11.
For more information, call 494-0541 or visit www.uucpa.org.
Concert benefits […]

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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