Looking to keep El Camino on top

In June, the El Camino Hospital (ECH) Board of Directors appointed Ken Graham CEO. Graham has 35 years’ experience in the health-care industry, the past 12 as president and CEO of Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Wash.

Graham helped transform Overlake from a small community hospital into a growing regional medical center noted for quality patient care. His achievements there included planning and managing extensive hospital construction projects.

Downtown parking permit fees to increase threefold

It’s that time of year when downtown business owners must reapply for parking permits. But this October, the annual fee has been raised three fold, from $12 a year to $36, a recommendation endorsed by the Los Altos Village Association and city staff and approved by the city council Sept. 12.

Councilmembers voted to appropriate $10,000 from the parking permit fund - extra revenue the city accumulated from parking permit fees over the past two years - for maintenance projects.

Hills resident pushes for Electoral College reform

Los Altos Hills resident John Koza wants to change the way we elect the next president. He is the mastermind behind legislation that would reform the U.S. Electoral College and, according to Koza, lead to more democratic elections.

AB 2948 passed the state Senate earlier this month and awaits Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature to become law. If Schwarzenegger signs it by Sept. 30, the bill would take effect only if enough states join the effort to produce a majority of electoral votes in the next election.

Los Altos Hills redistricting poll criticized as slanted

A poll released in Los Altos Hills last week that showed a marked increase in approval for schools redistricting has been challenged by opponents, who call it an attempt by charter school and redistricting supporters to paint consensus upon a divided town.

Information, and spin thereof, is at the center of this autumn’s redistricting and city council campaigns. On Dec. 7, the Santa Clara County redistricting committee will hear arguments on whether to create a new K-8 district for Los Altos Hills. Local school districts will argue that Hills residents don’t need a separate district, given the planned reopening of Bullis-Purissima Elementary School in the Hills. Redistricting supporters are gathering backing for arguing that residents deserve a chance to vote on separating from school districts that have, in recent decades, closed every public school in the town.

Los Altos, LACF close to Neutra lease agreement

Last year, the city conditionally approved removal of a small building known as Neutra House from a private residence to city-owned land near the Hillview Community Center. Since June, city officials and the Los Altos Community Foundation (LACF) have been negotiating a lease contract.

Friday, Mayor Ron Packard and Councilman Kurt Colehower met with LACF board members, including pro bono attorney and foundation secretary Henry Roux. While the legal language is not yet final, the foundation has agreed to take responsibility for Neutra House renovations and ongoing maintenance once it’s ready for community usage, Roux said.

Police Blotter

Grand theft
Sept. 19, 9:30 a.m., 600 block of Linden Avenue: $1,000 worth of tools were stolen from a construction site in the late evening or early morning.
Sept. 21, 400 block of Los Altos Avenue: Several thousand dollars worth of tools were stolen from a construction site. The suspect may have fled […]

Bill Siegel, a kind local leader, remembered

William “Bill” Siegel, 85, died Sept. 17 in San Francisco. The former Santa Clara County executive had served three terms as Los Altos Hills councilman and mayor before he retired to San Francisco in 2000.

“He was the wise man on the city council,” said Elayne Dauber, who served on the council with Mr. Siegel. “He always saw both sides and proposed good legislation - he was the kind father on the city council. They were very contentious years. People could be arguing a lot, but when Bill stepped in, he could usually come up with something everyone could go along with.”

Letters to the Editor

Farmlands group seeks creative solutions
The Mountain View Farmlands Group would like to provide a few clarifications to the article that ran last week regarding the farm on Grant Road. Three important points to note are:
• We have never tried to “thwart” the sale of the property as was stated in the […]

The Town Crier philosophy on reporting suicides

It’s been more than a month since a woman in Los Altos took her life. We received a brief account from police and contacted her place of business, whose employees were, understandably, uncomfortable and hesitant to say anything.

We haven’t run the story, not because we were asked not to, but because of our own policy about coverage of suicides: Family members need to be contacted and at least given the opportunity to participate in a story about their loved one.

Man’s best friend in need

I just paid a $300 veterinarian bill because Parker’s dewclaw got torn at the base, and we needed professional oversight and a solid dose of drugs - for the dog, not for me - to remove it. Parker also needed antibiotics and bandaging. His ears needed flushing. A growth on his gums needed removal and a biopsy. By the time the bill was settled, I had to remind myself that pet care can be expensive, but money isn’t everything. Parker is a constant, furry reminder of this all-important life lesson, a true gift to our family. In fact, in this respect, I guess you could call Parker the gift that just keeps on giving.

I might be exaggerating to say that over the last seven years, I’ve spent more on Parker’s medical bills than I have on my personal clothing budget, but it could be true when you actually add it all up. I’ve paid a bundle for services rendered on a variety of ailments: ear infections, foxtail removal, persistent limping, the dewclaw on the other leg, of course. I carried pet insurance for a while, but it was too persnickety to be of any real value. For example, it covered X-rays if your dog were hit by a car, or developed bone cancer, but didn’t cover them if arthritis or hip dysplasia were at issue. Foxtail removal was covered only if the foxtail were ingested orally. If your dog sniffed one up his nose, or if a foxtail burrowed down into your dog’s ear canal, you were obligated to pull out the checkbook, which I did, on more than one occasion.

Diana Cook-Pearl of Los Altos, artist, teacher, loyal friend and avid cyclist

Diana Cook-Pearl of Los Altos, an acclaimed teacher, artist and relentless cyclist, died Aug. 23 after a long battle with cancer. Mrs. Cook-Pearl was 70.

The Flint, Mich., native, who received her master’s degree in education from San Jose State University, taught in the adult education program at the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District.

People

Jessica Burnham and Tim George

Jessica Burnham and Tim George were married April 29 in Ft. Worth, Texas. The bride is the daughter of Andrew and Brigitte Burnham of Palo Alto. She graduated from Los Altos High School and received a bachelor’s degree in communication and sports management from UC Santa Barbara. She is employed as the marketing director for The Sooner Theatre.

People

Marla Landa and Blake Williams

Marla Landa and Blake Williams were married July 29 on Faculty Glade on the UC Berkeley campus with family friend Dr. Volney Van Dalsem performing the ceremony. A reception followed with dinner and dancing inside the Great Hall of the Faculty Club.

CSA supporters salute ‘hometown heroes’ while stressing humanitarian mission

Two major themes seemed to resonate at the annual “Hometown Heroes” breakfast held Friday by the Mountain View-Los Altos Community Services Agency: One is that even in well-off Los Altos, people are needy; the other is that the need is never-ending and the community can always do more.

“There are always children in need, there are always people in need,” said this year’s “hometown hero,” longtime CSA volunteer and homeless advocate Gisela Daetz. “There is never a time when we can say we’ve done enough.”

Hospice breakfast to feature Olympian Fleming

Olympic figure skater Peggy Fleming is scheduled to speak at the Pathways Hospice Foundation 16th Annual One from the Heart Awards Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Oct. 19 at the Crowne Plaza Cabaña Hotel in Palo Alto.

Fleming, who won a gold medal at the 1968 games, will share her life experiences as a national figure, breast cancer survivor and hospice family member.

Classic car show remains a favorite at annual Celebrate Los Altos Fall Festival

The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 15th annual Celebrate Los Altos Fall Festival Oct. 7-8 in the parking plaza behind Main Street off San Antonio Road in downtown Los Altos.

The festival is scheduled to feature nearly 100 classic cars owned by local enthusiasts.

Los Altos church celebrates 20 years of stained glass windows

Los Altos residents will have a unique opportunity next month to experience the area’s only major installation of contemporary stained glass. Christ Episcopal Church has scheduled a series of events throughout the month to honor the original members of the church who were the principal visionaries behind the idea to install stained glass at the church. The windows were installed in 1986.

“The spirit of this celebration is to honor the committee (who made this happen),” said Lauren Arnold, junior warden at the church. “We want to honor them and their vision.”

Dos Palos party does the neighborhood good

In an expression of neighborhood solidarity and family fun, nearly 150 residents of the Dos Palos area turned out for their second annual neighborhood party Sept. 17.

Organized around the theme “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” Dos Palos neighborhood leaders organized the party to encourage more resident interaction and to foster neighborhood support, especially about disaster preparedness. A team of about 30 Dos Palos volunteers organized the event. Residents of all ages attended: The youngest was 13 days old, the oldest, 91 years.

Silk painters offer art, fashion for unique book release party in Los Altos

Silk painter Natasha Foucault and co-author Jeanne-Michele Salander have scheduled a book release party, combined with an art and fashion show, for “Silk Diary: An Artist’s Journey from Moscow to Mendocino,” 3-7 p.m. Saturday at Art-n-Fun, 167 Main St., Los Altos.

The Russian-born Foucault, who has lived in the United States since 1990, said the new book is part memoir, part art book, and reveals the techniques of a relatively new and striking art form.

Two new principals settle into LASD

On any given weekday, Santa Rita Elementary School Principal Alyssa Gallagher and Covington Elementary School Principal Nancy Milo, two new principals in the Los Altos School District, can be found in the classrooms reading to students.

“I’m really enjoying being a principal,” Gallagher said. “It is my goal to know every student by name.”

Mother-daughter relationships require sensitivity and tact

Q: Why is it that everything I say to my teenage daughter is perceived by her to be a criticism? I am only expressing my concern about her appearance when I say, “Are you going out dressed like that?” It seems to me that I would sound critical if I said, “Your stomach hanging over your belt is not a pretty sight.”

A: I agree with you that your last observation could easily start World War III in mother-daughter communication. However, the first question, “Are you going out dressed like that?” has an equally inflammatory effect. The question hides a subtext, which your daughter feels is criticism and your sneaky way of saying, “I don’t approve of the way you are dressed.”

Freestyle students explore technology

Giving up spots on the swim and football teams, students at Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District’s innovative Freestyle High School confirm their dedication to learning technology that may benefit them in their future careers.

“The students are here (at Freestyle) because they want to be,” said Sydney McNamara, senior at Mountain View High School, who chose attending Freestyle over the swim team. “The motivation is different at Freestyle.”

Schools Briefs

MVHS marching band performs after garage sale
The Mountain View High School marching band has scheduled a multifamily garage sale 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot at the corner of Truman and Bryant avenues.
While the garage sale is in progress, band members will rehearse their field show as a […]

MVLA foundation hosts annual phoneathon

Volunteers gathered at the Los Altos Alain Pinel and Coldwell Banker realty offices Sept. 19 and 20 to call area residents on behalf of the Mountain View-Los Altos High School Foundation’s annual phoneathon.

Parents, foundation members, board members and district staff were on hand to help the foundation raise its $650,000 goal for the district this year. The volunteers called families in the high school district asking for $600 per pupil to supplement funding class-size reductions for incoming freshmen, tutorial centers, college and career centers, technology upgrades and extended library hours.

Los Altos routs Mills to remain undefeated

It wasn’t hard to pick out the definitive play in Los Altos High’s 28-0 football win over Mills.

With the host Eagles leading 7-0 in the closing minutes of the first half, Mills went for it on fourth-and-1 from the 50 - and they were denied.

Forget non-league results; Pinewood poised to challenge for league crown

Fans of Pinewood School volleyball need not panic about the team’s 1-6 start. New coach Cathy Carter said the wins will come once league play begins next week.

“Usually, the preseason is much more challenging than league,” said Carter, promoted from junior-varsity coach. “We’ve played teams that are very good.”

Coming to grips with limitations

Even though the future of the Los Altos High girls tennis program looks brighter than the present, coach Cuong Duong isn’t about to concede the 2006 season.

“We’ll be better next year,” he said. “But I’m not going to write off this season - it’s not fair to the seniors.”

Local business helps college grads get hired

A new business idea can spring from anywhere, like when you’re watching a movie, for instance.

That’s what happened to Adam Peterson, CEO and founder of Excelerade. He hatched the idea as he watched the movie “Hitch” on a flight to Hawaii.

Foreign economies wield power as U.S. remains oil dependent

The economic effects of U.S. dependence on foreign oil can be easily determined. Huge outflows of capital gush into the coffers of countries worldwide. The crowd that detests seeing U.S. jobs go offshore has turned a blind eye to this drain of money and jobs. It would be one thing if we needed to import huge quantities of sand - we just don’t have that much sand in the United States. But oil is a different story. Oil is known to be lying underground in huge quantities, but the potential has not been developed, and thus this crushing reliance on other countries and the loss of jobs and general economic activity goes on.

The political consequences of this idiotic imbalance are being played out on the world stage as we speak. Countries with hollow economies - that is, no meaningful economic activity other than oil - are being led by those who are emboldened by the power their oil has over the United States. By all accounts, this is a new generation of leaders who arrived on the scene to benefit from huge cash flows and readily recognized the stranglehold on the greatest economy in the world. The issue is not whether the United States is dominating the world in anything - the issue is our oil dependency. Period. The producing countries wield tremendous power. Are the arguments advocating dependency by discouraging development ignoring the consequences of that action?

Green building comes of age

Earl Killian believes he was first infected during college. In the mid-1970s, his roommate’s class in the school of architecture designed an energy-efficient home as a project. The house needed to be heated only five days of the year - in Massachusetts.

“That bug sat in my bloodstream until 2000 and finally emerged to bite,” Killian said.

These native trees are attention-grabbing gems

A hillside of native oaks or a redwood grove connotes California, but for a smaller suburban garden, a smaller native tree can serve as a focal point, lend a sculptural quality or provide structure.

Many of these plants are commonly grown as large shrubs (10 to 20 feet tall and wide), with foliage down to the ground and occasional tip-pruning to shape the silhouette. With careful selection and expert pruning when the plant is young and careful annual follow-up, you can develop a more open framework, usually with multiple trunks.

Meet October in the garden and the kitchen

Fall has begun, and there’s a chill in the air. Soon we will be ready for roasted red pepper soup, baked winter squash and arugula salads. As our summer crops come to their end, we harvest and remove them to plant our winter crops, so they may become established before the cold weather sets in.

The fall harvest: peppers

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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