Payoff is the playoffs

Although the expectations of the area’s five high school football teams may vary, they share a common goal for the upcoming season. It’s all about making the playoffs.

Doing so will likely require winning a weak division (the aim of Los Altos and Gunn highs), finishing among the top three in a stronger one (Mountain View and Homestead highs) or placing among the upper half of perhaps the toughest league in the state (St. Francis High).

Arrest made in murder of LA resident 28 years ago

The first big break in a murder mystery that began 28 years ago in Los Altos came last week in Loveland, Colo.

A police SWAT team - joined by investigators from Santa Clara County - arrested Loveland resident Scott Schultz Aug. 23 for the murder of Laura Beyerly of Los Altos.

Fox News journalist, Los Altos High School grad freed

Fox News journalist Steve Centanni, a Los Altos High School graduate, and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig - who were kidnapped Aug. 14 and held captive by an Islamic group in the Gaza Strip - were released unharmed Sunday.

After their release, the two men were brought to a hotel in Gaza to be greeted by colleagues. They then met with the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, who had called for their captors to free them.

Police Blotter

MV woman wakes to ongoing burglary
Mountain View Police responded to an early-morning home invasion on the 900 block of Marilyn Drive Aug. 22.
A 70-year-old woman was home alone when she woke to find a male suspect in her bedroom. He stole cash, her purse and several antique, gold pocket watches. He tied […]

Appeals court sides with city in sewer maintenance dispute

A San Jose appellate court sided with Los Altos Aug. 24 in a years-long sewage dispute between unincorporated Los Altos resident Dr. Tom Burns and the city. Burns has sought to recover damages after a sewage backflow into his Frontero Avenue home in 2003.

In a separate development, county Deputy District Attorney Stephen Lowney has closed an investigation related to allegations made by Burns against the Los Altos City Council. The allegations, which have been investigated for the past year and a half, included “perjury, subornation, tampering with evidence, or withholding or evidence,” according to a letter written by Lowney to Burns on Aug. 17.

Alleged Internet predator arrested

Los Altos police arrested a 37-year-old Cupertino man in an undercover sexual predator operation July 14.

Prashant Pimprikar, a software engineer, drove to Los Altos with the alleged intent of having sex with a minor, Detective Paul Epley said. A police officer posing as a female teen had conversed with Pimprikar on the Internet since early July.

First phase of El Camino Hospital on schedule

The construction project for the new El Camino Hospital is on schedule and on budget. Ken King, vice president of facilities services at the hospital, provided details to the hospital board of directors at a public meeting Aug. 22.

“We broke ground on June 1 and we’re excavating and installing the foundation,” said King. “We’re in the early stages of a three-year construction project.”

Editorial

We’re relieved and encouraged to hear that Bullis Charter School supporters have dropped their lawsuit against the Los Altos School District. Although the agreement stipulates that the district cannot recoup legal costs incurred to defend itself, the end of litigation means the end of money being spent on attorneys rather than children.

Reasons cited in dropping the suit included Bullis supporters’ observations that progress is being made in negotiations with the district. Superintendent Tim Justus has played a vital role in this progress.

Just how far can one mole dig in one night?

• A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet in one night.

• Ancient Chinese artists freely depicted scenes of nakedness and coition, but absolutely never would they depict a simple bare female foot.

Letter to the Editor

Thanks for easing hardship
This letter is to openly thank you for printing the story (”Memorial fund for girl set up after mother found dead,” Aug. 16) about my daughter’s death and also to express our apprection to those who contributed to ease our hardship.
Some people sent contributions anonymously, so this is […]

Star Trek and Vegas: Where many have gone before

So here we are, another school year is under way, another summer break officially over. Our family usually goes on one last trip just before school begins, and this year was no exception. However, the destination was.

While Tahoe is usually our annual August resting spot, this year it was Vegas, of all places. The annual Star Trek convention was in town and the kids enjoyed some of the early “Star Trek” episodes. So we figured it would be fun and different.

Obituary Notices

James Gilbert Johnston
On Saturday, August 12, 2006, James Gilbert Johnston, 78, of Los Altos, CA passed peacefully from this world after a long illness at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. A person of great integrity, wisdom and character, “Jim” was a true gentleman, who will be missed by all […]

More outcry over eucalyptus removal

The issue of felling eucalyptus trees is now taking hold in Los Altos, where a creekside resident is upset over the trees’ removal at the hands of a water company.

Last week, Larry Gardner watched helplessly as crews from the California Water Service Company took down two tall eucalyptus trees on Cal Water property next to his home on Van Buren Avenue. Cal Water has a water tank and pumping station on the property.

Katrina, one year later: Gulf relief efforts bring progress, but still a long way to go

Editor’s note: Stuart Armstrong of Los Altos volunteered in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort with City Team Ministries last year. After three trips to the hurricane-ravaged areas, experiencing the devastation and providing his assistance, Armstrong remains committed to the continuing relief efforts and offers his evaluation of the situation one year after the hurricane.

On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina walloped the Gulf Coast from west of New Orleans to east of Biloxi, Miss., a distance of more than 100 miles. It packed 150 mph winds accompanied by a 30-foot storm surge.

Bullis Charter School gains accreditation

After a lengthy self-study and full-day accreditation team visit, the Schools Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) awarded full accreditation to Bullis Charter School.

The criteria to receive accreditation are based on guidelines of systemic school improvement that address WASC’s central tenet: A school operates with a clear understanding of its purpose.

Schools Briefs

Registration begins for Lego robotics team
Team registration has started for this fall’s first Lego League robotics challenge called NANO Quest. The robotics program aims to introduce boys and girls, from grade 4 to 14-year-olds, to the wonders of engineering, science, math and technology in a fun and engaging way.
Lego League pairs […]

Rocky III

You could call TJ Wood the pioneer - he was the first Los Altos High graduate to land at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont., to play football. Last fall, in his first season with the Battlin’ Bears, the Foothill College transfer started every game at offensive tackle.

Wood’s former Los Altos High teammates - back/returner Marcus Boone and receiver Mike Sage - came in the next semester. The transfers from De Anza College also quickly discovered they definitely weren’t in Los Altos anymore.

SFHS grad Bramlett reaches 2nd round of U.S. Amateur

After beating the champion of France and Britain at last week’s U.S. Amateur Championship, Joseph Bramlett met his match in an All-American from Georgia.

Bramlett, a 2006 graduate of St. Francis High, bowed out in the second round of match play, falling 3 and 2 to Robert Castro Thursday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

Prevent foreclosure and maintain ownership of your home

California foreclosure activity rose at the fastest pace in at least 14 years during the second quarter of this year as a result of waning home-price appreciation.

DataQuick Information Systems reports that during the April-through-June period, lenders sent 20,752 default notices to homeowners statewide, up 10.5 percent from 18,778 the previous quarter and up 67.2 percent from 12,408 in the second quarter of last year. Notices of default are formal documents filed with the county recorder’s office and mark the first step in the foreclosure process.

‘Wife Swap’ comes to town

The ABC reality TV series “Wife Swap” came to Los Altos last week. The production team filmed two segments at Crimson Mim, a boutique shoe and apparel store on Main Street.

Christine Campbell, the owner of the shop, was on vacation in Canada when she received a call from the producer of the show.

E-waste recycling center opens in Los Altos

It’s easy to buy a PC, an iPod or a cell phone. It’s not so easy to recycle them. In most cases, the retired PC and the worn-out TV end up on a shelf in a closet - or worse, as e-waste in a landfill.

Green Citizen Inc., an electronics recycling company, makes it easy for local consumers to recycle outdated electronics equipment and reduce the environmental impact incurred downstream. Green Citizen opened a Drop-Off Center in Los Altos June 28.

‘Fit after 40′ emphasizes emotional fitness

Let me tell you a secret. Parenting books are written by parents of docile children. So what about a book on living a totally fit life?

Clicking on the link to the Web site of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the house that published Los Altos resident Don Nava’s “Fit after 40: 3 Keys to Looking Good and Feeling Great” (2006), brings up www.christianbooks.com. While representing a smattering of the usual suspects like Bill Bennett and cliché titles about liberals and Democrats, Nelson, whose origins date back to 18th century Scotland, seems to be a fairly restrained, serious publisher of Bibles and Christian books.

Books Briefs

Local author discusses book at Sunnyvale Borders
The Sunnyvale Borders bookstore has scheduled Sunnyvale novelist and former St. Francis High School student Robert Balmanno to discuss his newly published novel, “September Snow,” 2-10 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 at Borders, 316 W. El Camino Real.
Balmanno will present talks at 3 p.m. and 8 […]

Australia’s Kakadu National Park offers natural treasures and adventure

Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia is a place like no other.

Simply getting there is an achievement, and the best time to visit is between May and September, the dry season.

Bridal beauty from head . . .

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Hairstylist Keisha Lange of Bliss Beauty Center at Rancho Shopping Center often follows this theme when creating bridal hairstyles. Embellishments such as a blue rhinestone hair clip, an antique brooch from grandma or silk rosettes from mom’s wedding gown can add something special to a hairdo.

Elegant shoes add comfort to style

It’s a sad reality for brides that the very day of their lives that they get to look their most glamorous, they are forced to spend hours and hours on their feet. Walking down the aisle is just one small step for the marrying kind. There is also posing for photographs, making the receiving line, dancing with both sets of fathers and all your uncles, circulating to greet your guests and standing, standing, standing.

The last thing a bride needs is sore feet, yet it is not an uncommon occurrence. Most women are focused on looking stunning when they choose their ensemble. Love does not just beckon from the lips of the betrothed. It also cries out from impossibly pointed beaded shoes, 3-inch-plus heels, sandals with straps that leave marks and little darlings just a half-size too small that make our feet look like a nymph’s.

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. Deadline is noon Tuesday for the next week’s paper. Notices must be typed and include a contact name and phone number. Submit items via e-mail (peteb@latc.com); fax (948-6647) or post (138 Main St., Los Altos, CA 94022).

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