Goodbye to a longtime friend

By Bruce Barton

Longtime Town Crier columnist and Los Altos Hills resident Mary De Cristoforo, better known as Mary Cristy to legions of readers, died Oct. 30 after months of failing health. She was 88.

Missing Oak school student found safe

The Los Altos community experienced the extremes of fear and relief Nov. 1 as a daylong search for missing 11-year-old Tara Kapany ended with her safe return.

Los Altos residents Erica and Raj Kapany awoke the morning after Halloween to find their daughter, Tara, along with her sleeping bag and her trick-or-treat candy, missing. The Oak Avenue Elementary School sixth-grader was found unharmed in the early evening, in a bed of ivy near the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints on Grant Road, blocks from her home.

Election coverage in next week’s Crier

Due to the Town Crier’s Monday press deadline, results from yesterday’s election will not be included until the Nov. 15 print edition. Immediate results are available by visiting the Town Crier’s Web site, www.latc.com.

Los Altos School District supporters were hoping to renew an annual $597 parcel tax, providing 20 percent of the school budget under Measure H.

ECH offers remedy to pharmacy problems

A recent government agency report requested that El Camino Hospital take immediate action to address issues concerning the way its pharmacy administers medications to patients.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) surveyed the hospital in August to review a previous plan of correction related to El Camino Hospital pharmacy operations. During the survey, representatives found additional deficiencies in the way the hospital pharmacy managed and controlled medications.

Redistricting dispute stymies sewer agreement between LA, LAH

The pending sewer agreement between Los Altos and Los Altos Hills hit a bump in the road at the Los Altos City Council meeting Oct. 24, with the Hills council attributing Los Altos’ last-minute qualms to underlying anger at the Hills for its attempt to redistrict.

“The two towns have had a mutually beneficial, peaceful coexistence,” Los Altos Hills City Councilman Craig Jones said at the Oct. 26 Hills council meeting. “It’s only the school district issue that causes angst.”

News Briefs

Elder fraud
On Nov. 2, a couple and child approached the home of an 84-year-old Los Altos man, pretending to be acquainted with the victim’s deceased spouse. The man asked if the child could use the restroom. The woman kept the homeowner occupied. A short time later, the three exited the home. […]

City, parents seek renewal of safety grant

Concerned parents, traffic commissioners and city staff are again teaming up to make streets safer for children walking and biking to school.

Los Altos resident and Montclaire Elementary School parent LaNae Avra said she is urging the Los Altos City Council to reapprove the grant application in time for the Jan. 2 federal traffic grant application deadline.

LASD decries pro-charter school ad

Los Altos School District officials bristled last week over an advertisement placed in the Nov. 1 Town Crier describing proposed boundaries for reopening the Bullis-Purissima School campus in Los Altos Hills.

The ad, placed by a group of pro-Bullis Charter School parents, claimed the school board’s Oct. 9 decision not to place the charter school at the Bullis site would “have a dramatic effect on the neighborhoods in Los Altos.”

Editorials

Mobilization effort impressive
Police, schools and community efforts to search for a missing sixth-grade student last week came together efficiently and quickly. The fact that so many areas were covered, from e-mail trees to bulletins to news media, is highly commendable and leaves us reassured that a strong plan is in place in […]

Letters to the Editor

Having to go to LASD? Life is rough
Getting our own school in Los Altos Hills is a big issue this year. A flier was mailed out making points about why we deserve a school. One argument says based on the taxes that Hills residents pay, we deserve our own school. The flier also […]

Not my son

When I answered the phone early one morning, a man’s breezy voice was on the line. “Is Kyle there?” he said, referring to my 17-year-old son. “I’m not sure he’s up yet. Who’s calling, please?” “Corporal Such and Such from the U.S. Army,” the man replied.

“You have got to be kidding,” I said.

Wally Cunneen Jr., 84, led a life of service and leadership

Wallace Vincent Cunneen Jr. believed in the value of community service. It was his outstanding leadership abilities that inspired his son Jim to run for public office as state Assemblyman.

Mr. Cunneen, known as Wally, died Oct. 31 at his home in Los Altos Hills. He was 84.

Obituary Notices

BARBARA R. CADDEN
A San Francisco native, died suddenly at her home in Los Altos on October 25, 2006. She is survived by her loving husband, John R. “Jack”, of thirty-one years, loving son, Stephen Picetti of Los Altos, sister, Janet Errico of Sunnyvale, and her aunt, Dorothy Bergounous of Sacramento. She was […]

People

Pamela Bianchi and Dennis McSweeney

Pamela Bianchi and Dennis McSweeney were married Oct. 7. The ceremony and reception were held at the Quail Hollow Ranch in Felton.

Ex-senators mix weighty and wit at Celebrity Forum

Appearing before a nearly sold-out Celebrity Forum audience Nov. 3, former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle and Bob Dole traded serious political viewpoints and humorous one-liners about a range of topics, including the Nov. 7 elections and the 2008 presidential election.

The event, hosted by Foothill-De Anza Community College District, was held at Flint Center on the De Anza campus.

Joint city service awards slated for Dec. 1

Community leaders from Los Altos and Los Altos Hills recognize outstanding volunteers for their extraordinary community service each year by presenting the Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards.

The award luncheon, in its 24th year, is scheduled Dec. 1 at the Los Altos Youth Center. The keynote speaker will be Ken Graham, the CEO of El Camino Hospital.

LAHS mock trial team prepares for competition

Los Altos High School students who participate in the mock trial program dedicate two weeknights a week, nearly 120 hours a year, to learn how the U.S. legal system functions.

Students assume the roles of trial participants from witnesses and attorneys to bailiffs and court clerks. The students develop presentation skills, analytic ability and team cooperation as they study the case and prepare strategies and arguments for trial.

LASD students raise funds in Walkathon

Children from Los Altos School District elementary schools participated in their annual walkathons Oct. 14, raising money for various school programs.

Sponsors pledged a fixed sum or a specific amount for each lap completed.

Schools Briefs

LA Cultural Association sponsors photo contest
The Los Altos Cultural Association is sponsoring a photography contest for local high school students who live in Los Altos and Mountain View.
The theme is “Fall in Los Altos,” and a student can submit up to three different photos in color or black and white. The photos […]

Noteworthies

Keith McGinnis, a 2002 graduate of Los Altos High School, received a bachelor’s degree with honors from Humboldt State University in May.

Los Altos resident Heather Hodges, a senior at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., has been awarded a scholarship by the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation. Rogers scholars excel academically and exhibit qualities of leadership, dedication, integrity, compassion, sensitivity and self-discipline. Hodges is an English major.

Student essay: Fighting the Current

Students at Freestyle High School, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District’s new academy of communication arts and technology, were assigned to discuss a belief that guides their lives in some way. This is one student’s essay. To view more Freestyle student work, including the author’s self-portrait film, visit www.acaat.mvla.net.

One day, when he was in eighth grade, Chris woke up, unable to hold up his own head. From there, it took two-and-a-half months to diagnose him with the rare muscle and nerve disease that almost took his life.

Eagles jump Gunn

The celebration was so subdued - a smattering of claps, some smiles and a few congratulatory handshakes - it was hard to tell that the Los Altos High football team had just clinched the league title.

Perhaps it was because the Eagles expected to throttle Gunn, which they did by a score of 41-7 Friday in Palo Alto. Or maybe it had to do with them already turning their attention to Thursday’s SCVAL El Camino Division finale at Monta Vista, a team in title contention prior to last week.

Los Altos volleyball team gears up for CCS after banner year

The question swirled around the Los Altos High girls volleyball team soon after it beat Homestead Thursday to clinch a share of the SCVAL De Anza Division championship. Just how long had it been since the Eagles last won the league?

First-year coach Christine Matteucci wasn’t sure, though she thought it was around the beginning of the decade. Athletic director Kim Cave - also in her first year on the job - had no idea, nor did predecessor Monica Lodge. The answer arrived only after Cave scanned the championship banners adorning the Los Altos High gym. There it was: 1993.

LAHS earns a rest for field hockey success

With eight days between its regular-season finale and playoff opener, the Los Altos High field hockey team’s biggest challenge this week may be getting through - and getting something out of - all those practices.

“Going more than a week without a game, practices can get boring,” said coach Gerri Baldwin, whose Eagles begin the Central Coast Section playoffs Saturday in the quarterfinals. “You need to find different things to do to keep them entertained.”

Design & Interiors celebrates 25 years

Design & Interiors Inc., a furniture and interior design store, hosted a reception last week to celebrate its 25th anniversary in downtown Los Altos. About 100 people joined President Marcy Puccetti and the design staff for the festivities.

Bill Puccetti founded the store in Mountain View in 1981; the Los Altos store opened in 1983.

Post-election indicators are positive for economy

The election is over and soon we can start watching for a good, healthful dose of gridlock. This happens when competing sides in Washington are close in numbers and little can be agreed upon. Many Wall Street pundits think gridlock is good for the markets because the status quo is maintained and no surprises in economic policy are expected. Steady policy is good for investors and allows companies to plan for the future.

Meanwhile, the evil spirits that frequently haunt the stock market in October failed to materialize. The often-volatile month showed solid gains this year. Solid earnings growth fueled these gains. In fact, consensus forecasts for the large company index, S&P 500, is for earnings to grow 15 percent in the quarter just ended. The employment situation is positive, with unemployment at around 4.5 percent. Historically this is a very low rate, which in the past has brought risks of inflation as salaries often rise as companies compete for employees.

Baby boomers working and living longer are driving force in housing market

A recent study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reveals that baby boomers are living longer and, unlike previous generations, many boomers are retiring later. They have more varied circumstances in life and, as a result, face a wider variety of housing needs in the future.

The comprehensive study, conducted by Harris Interactive, is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 Americans born between 1946 and 1964 - the largest generation in U.S. history. There are 78 million baby boomers in the United States.

Festive winter squash accent holiday tables

Winter squash, the hard-skinned, earthy cousins of zucchini, are native to America, where some varieties have remained unchanged for nearly 5,000 years. The colorful, fanciful shapes of pumpkins and squash reappeared in abundance in area markets this month.

These homespun fruits are usually cooked like a vegetable. They range in flavor from the subtle and meaty butternut to the sweet, chestnut-flavored delicata. Winter squash baking fills the home with warmth and a fragrance like that of pumpkin pie. They are easily baked and filled with savory stuffing or with glistening fruits for a lovely Thanksgiving presentation.

A Good Morning dishes up breakfast throughout the day

A Good Morning stocks a breakfast dish to soothe almost any morning grump, from the simple latte-and-a-doughnut to the artery-busting eggs Benedict. Young restaurateur Ling Chow spent a year eating her way through area coffee shops to assemble a menu of her favorite tastes for A Good Morning. The result is a well-rounded selection of California-style all-American dishes, including a selection of light options. The new breakfast place opened in the Village Court at the intersection of San Antonio Road and El Camino Real two months ago.

The full espresso bar cranks out coffee drinks on an old-school Mr. Coffee espresso maker, including seasonal favorites like pumpkin and eggnog lattes. One trendy drink to sample is the interesting Rooibos, a red tea iced drink. The Frappuccino-like concoction offers a sweet introduction to the South African herb. Red tea’s floral, nutty, caffeine-free flavor and antioxidant qualities have made it a popular coffee alternative, and Chow mixes up a blended, iced version of the tea.

Bold flavors, strange textures highlight the pleasures of winter fruits

November is the month to seek out the little-known fruits of winter. Locally grown pomegranates, persimmons and quince offer a fresh alternative to the imported bananas and apples that stock winter shelves.

Glossy orange persimmons have an unpleasant surprise in store for the uninitiated - bite into an under-ripe acorn-shaped Hachiya persimmon and prepare for a mouth-puckeringly tannic experience. As any kind produce vendor will tell you, the oval, dark-orange fruits need to ripen, in the refrigerator or on the counter until they are squishy-soft. At that point, the custardy, sweet flesh can be spooned out of the skin and eaten plain or baked in cakes and custards.

Newest Evanovich highlights ‘lite lit’ genre

When the going gets tough, the non-tough turn to escape entertainment. For many of us, that means escape reading. To qualify as escape reading, a book must be so skillfully written that the pages fly by without pause or problem - no big words, no complicated sentences, no heavy thoughts. Writing good “lite lit” is not as easy as it looks. Only a handful of authors have mastered the technique, and their books always sell.

Among readers who enjoy lite lit, some like melodrama, others prefer adventure and others demand humor. Most readers who like humorous, gutsy-girl lite mysteries already know about Janet Evanovich. Her “One for the Money,” “Two for the Dough” series of Stephanie Plum novels have been hugely successful.

Town Crier Train Tour goes Down Under

The famous Ghan Train, which bisects Australia from north to south, first attracted Town Crier Train Tour travelers to the country. And while the Ghan lived up to all expectations, the breadth of cultural and natural wealth throughout this island nation also mesmerized first timers. From brekky (Aussie for breakfast) on the Sydney waterfront to champagne sunset toasts at the base of the mysterious monolith, Ayers Rock, which juts 1,000 feet in the air in the Outback, the trip was one surprise after another.

Sydney, a blend of San Francisco’s waterfront and Chicago’s robust skyline, has a user-friendliness that matches downtown Los Altos. One can climb up and over Sydney’s famous bridge, a majestic arch, for $160. And the Sydney Opera House, one of the most photographed man-made structures in the world, deserves the attention it gets.

Alpine adventure offers charm, cheese and chocolate

For all the joys of an alpine summer - lake resorts, snowcapped mountains, edelweiss, chocolate and trains that run on time - visit Switzerland.

My parents rented a house in the Alps for a month every summer, and then we returned for the Christmas holidays for two weeks of skiing. Two of my favorite places are Montreux and Saas-Fee.

Datebook

THEATER

“The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Foothill College Drama Department. Updated version of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy about friendship, betrayal and love. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Playhouse Theatre, Room 1301, Foothill, 12345 S. El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. $8-$16. 949-7360; www.foothill.edu/fa.