Devoting life to the fight

Dr. Robert Frascino of Los Altos makes it perfectly clear - he does not consider himself a victim.

Frascino contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while treating an AIDS patient in 1991 - an incident that would have spelled ruin for many. Instead, Frascino strengthened his resolve and devoted his life to raising money and awareness about the AIDS epidemic with an unflinching sense of compassion and grace.

LA police investigate armed robbery and scam case

Los Altos law enforcement had a busy day March 1 as officers responded to an armed robbery at a business on El Camino Real and a scam incident at a resident’s home on El Sereno Avenue. Suspects in both cases are still at large.

At approximately 8 p.m., officers responded to an armed robbery at the MetroPCS store at 4700 El Camino Real in Los Altos, where two suspects wearing ski masks had fled the store moments earlier. Armed with small-caliber handguns, the suspects forced several store employees into a back room. One employee was struck over the head and sustained minor injuries. The suspects absconded with more than $3,000, fleeing the store in a vehicle, according to Sgt. Detective Paul Epley.

Los Altos considers special events ordinance

Los Altos resident Randall Hull, who is organizing the long-running Kiwanis Pet Parade this year, said he is worried that if city officials approve an ordinance defining special events such as parades and festivals, the pet parade won’t happen.

The specifics aren’t defined yet, but council members agree that the city must define “special events” to protect itself from lawsuits and to establish spending practices about how to fund events in the future.

Public hearing set for proposed downtown makeover

The Los Altos Downtown Zoning Committee has concluded that the downtown needs a major overhaul. Now the public will have an opportunity to respond to the committee’s seven recommendations during a March 20 hearing at city hall.

The zoning committee announced Feb. 26 an ambitious set of goals to stimulate business that could dramatically transform the look and feel of downtown Los Altos.

El Camino Hospital Surgery Center partially sold

Controlling interest in the ownership of the El Camino Surgery Center (ECSC) changed Feb. 28 when ECSC sold a 25 percent interest to a group of physicians.

“ECSC determined to sell interests in ECSC to meet market competition and reduce risk of ongoing operations,” said an ECSC internal document.

Police Blotter

Tampering with
a vehicle

March 1, 6:31 a.m., 1800 block of Middleton Avenue: Someone reported vehicle tampering.

Petty theft from
a vehicle

March 1, 9:39 a.m., 1300 block of Middleton Avenue: Someone reported a theft from a vehicle.
March 1, 12:20 p.m., 1400 block of Redwood Drive: Someone reported a theft from a vehicle.

[…]

Downtown merchants targeted in check scam

Ten Los Altos merchants were victims of counterfeit travelers check scams between Jan. 23 and Feb. 5, said a spokesman for the Los Altos Police Department.

“These travelers checks are really good (counterfeits),” said Paco Vergara, crime prevention officer with the Los Altos Police Department.

Editorial

A downtown Los Altos zoning committee has laid out a blueprint for a better downtown, one that bodes promise for the future. City and business leaders need to follow through on it starting now.

Through a list of seven recommendations to the city council, the committee, comprising council members and business leaders, has offered specific direction for improving the downtown landscape.

Letters to the Editor

Ordinance needed for roadside foliage

I applaud the Los Altos Hills City Council for addressing the roadside safety problems in our area. One thing they could consider is holding property owners more responsible for maintaining their roadside frontage.
Walking a loop up Camino Hermoso Drive around to Ravensbury Avenue and back illustrates the […]

Writers Week and the pursuit of passion

I recently had the privilege to participate in the 22nd annual Writers Week at Los Altos High School. The event draws distinguished writers, many of them working journalists on daily newspapers, but also novelists, academics and freelancers. Organizers consistently draw a high level of talent and this year was no exception. Featured speakers included novelist Daniel Handler of “Lemony Snicket” fame and New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt.

I spoke to four classes about what I do for a living, how I began my career, my likes and dislikes and so forth. It was a great experience. The students were receptive and interested.

Obituary Notices

JOHN THOMAS MEREDITH

August 12, 1921 -
February 22, 2007
John Meredith, 85, peacefully passed away of pneumonia with his daughter Sherry at his bedside in San Jose, two years to the day after the passing of his beloved wife, Eleanor (Sunny). He was kind and cheerful, a man of good character. […]

Thinking green: energy experts talk policy and hope

California Energy Commissioner Jeffrey Byron called U.S. dependency on oil an addiction and urged conservation at a Feb. 10 panel on “Oil Dependence.” The forum, at Mountain View High School, was sponsored by the Mountain View-Los Altos League of Women Voters.

Scientists now agree that global warming is upon us, but the four speakers noted that there is a silver lining in the policy clouds, as state legislators push to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Rotarians renovate Mayan village libraries

Upon their return from Yucatan, Mexico, Los Altos residents Jane Reed and Allart Ligtenberg enthusiastically reported to the Los Altos Rotary Club Feb. 15 about their “hands-on” community service project.

A group of 13 Rotarians and their spouses from Los Altos and Palo Alto spent several days in the Mayan villages of Ixil and Mococha, working with the non-profit organization Proyecto Itzaes (”Project of the People”). This free, community-service-based educational program was founded in 1995 by Palo Alto resident Cynthia Wilber.

El Camino Hospital Auxiliary on the lookout for volunteers

Judy Van Dyck, former president of the El Camino Hospital (ECH) Auxiliary, is concerned that the Auxiliary’s volunteer staff is dwindling and she’s making it a point to let the community know about it.

“We need volunteers badly,” she said. “When I was president from 1995 through 1997, there were 800 senior volunteers. Now there are only 451.”

Longtime Loyola principal to retire

When Elliot Low started his first day at Loyola Elementary School in Los Altos, his principal Linda Eckols already knew his name.

“She makes you feel like your child is very important,” said Loyola parent Katie Matice. “It seems like she knows every child’s name on the first day of school. That immediately makes you feel like a part of the Loyola community.”

The bottom line on spanking

Q: How do you weigh in on the loud debate about Assemblywoman Sally Lieber’s (D-Mountain View) proposal to make the spanking of children aged 4 and under a misdemeanor offense?

A: First, let’s define the word “spanking,” because most people don’t agree on what spanking means. According to Webster’s Dictionary, spank is defined, “to strike with something flat, as the open hand, esp. on the buttocks.” That describes either an effective discipline if delivered when safety is an issue and the parent is in control of his/her emotions or a potentially harmful punishment if the parent is furious and out of control.

Eating disorder specialist presents educational lecture for parents

Dr. Pamela Carlton, a specialist in adolescent eating disorders at Stanford University School of Medicine and author of a newly published book for parents on how to help their children overcome such potentially life-threatening diseases, is scheduled to speak 7 p.m. March 15 in the Covington Elementary School multipurpose room, 205 Covington Road, Los Altos.

Carlton, author of “Take Charge of Your Child’s Eating Disorder: A Physician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Defeating Anorexia and Bulimia” (Marlowe & Company, 2006), is founder and director of the Adolescent Eating Disorder Parent Education and Support Program at Stanford. Her book is a hands-on, medically based guide for parents, teachers, coaches, school counselors and health-care professionals.

Not all children go out of town during winter and spring breaks

Ask any school-aged child what makes February and April so special, and the immediate response is, “Vacation!” Ask a parent, and the response is more likely, “What am I going to do with the kids?”

While it was once rare for schoolchildren to enjoy weeklong breaks in the middle of a semester, today it’s typical for students to get two such vacations, one over February’s Presidents’ Day holiday and another at the start of spring.

Schools article

LAHS hosts
band night

The Instrumental Music Boosters of Los Altos High School have scheduled their second annual “Band Nite@the High School - Music and Munchies” 5:45-9 p.m. Saturday. Designed to introduce incoming students to the high school band programs, the event welcomes all middle school students, their parents and siblings, as well as […]

Panthers persevere

The Pinewood School girls basketball team played so poorly in the first half of the Central Coast Section Division V final that even the confident coach of the top-seeded Panthers had his doubts.

“You have to stay positive when you face adversity, and I must admit I wasn’t the one staying positive,” coach Doc Scheppler said of trailing No. 3 Sacred Heart Prep 21-15 at halftime. “It was all the girls.”

Hoping for another shot

Call it denial, optimism or downright stubbornness.

Although the St. Francis High girls basketball team sunk to 0-3 against Mitty this season with Friday’s 59-39 loss in the Central Coast Section Division II final, the Lancers want another shot at the nationally ranked Monarchs.

Local store celebrates Jewish culture and religion

If you have an interest in the Jewish religion, life and culture, bob and bob is a new store in Los Altos catering to those needs.

The retail store, which offers Jewish books, gifts and religious items, celebrated its grand opening Thursday at its new location on El Camino Real in Los Altos.

Market sell-off: A slow leak or a pop in the economic balloon?

OK, I am up to my eyebrows in newsprint and literally swimming in black ink - all about the market sell-off last week.

What caused it? It was the Chinese market or the bad durable-goods orders or the slow housing market. No, it was the off-the-cuff comments of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

Housing market study shows 2006 trends in real estate

The California Association of Realtors’ 26th Annual Housing Market Survey, “The State of the California Housing Market,” examined trends in buyer and seller behavior during 2006, a transition year in which statewide sales of existing single-family homes decreased 23 percent and price appreciation slowed dramatically as the year progressed.

Some key findings from the study include:

Zing for the spring

T hough the weather still says winter, the calendar is already filling up with spring car tours, track days and promises of sunny runs over to the coast or up into the mountains. For this kind of motoring, one really needs a sports car, one that offers two seats, a top that goes down and satisfying performance.

This month we’ve checked out some of the options, including the Honda S2000, which has been around for several years, and two brand-new sports cars from General Motors, the Saturn Sky and its sibling, the Pontiac Solstice.

Oil-change intervals depend on several factors

In January’s column, we covered the functions of engine oil, the reasons it needs to be changed periodically and the correct oil to use. This time, we discuss the proper oil-change interval.

Of course, the proper oil-change interval depends on several things, including the year, make and model of your particular vehicle, the type of driving you do, your driving habits and where in the country you live.

Light fee is worth the cost

Q: The “check engine” warning light is on in my car. I was told that I need to pay to find out why it is on and what is needed to shut it off, but I have seen ads where shops say they will do it for free. What is the difference, and why would I need to pay for this?

A: This service can only be performed correctly if the shop has invested in the right equipment, the right software and trained technicians with access to the right information to determine the cause of a warning light.

Well-researched novel illuminates art and life in 18th-century London

It is interesting to watch a good novelist grow up. Tracy Chevalier’s first big hit, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (Dutton, 1999), was critically acclaimed for its talented storytelling and authentic rendering of 17th-century Dutch life. But I didn’t like the aftertaste. The story, though well told, lacked a moral compass and thought-provoking ideas. Another Chevalier novel, “The Virgin Blue” (Plume, 2003), left the reader with a what-was-the-point feeling.

The author, now in her mid-40s, has published a new novel, “Burning Bright” (Dutton, 2007), which proves to be an enjoyable diversion. Again, Chevalier depicts a previous century - this time the 18th - and tells the story of a famous artist through the eyes of working-class youth.

Arts for smarts

It’s a fact - music makes you smarter. Evy Schiffman, director of marketing and communication for the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center in Mountain View, pointed to study after study showing children who take music lessons are four times more likely to win an academic award and eight times more likely to win a community service award, have demonstrably better reading and math performance and exhibit better social interaction than their nonmusical peers.

Parents in the Silicon Valley will do anything to give their children an edge, so it’s not surprising that the Bay Area bucks the statewide trend of decreasing the ratio of music teachers to children. In private lessons, small-group settings and large symphony orchestras, Los Altos children can take advantage of various styles of music education.

Little Gym in Mountain View promotes child development

Oh, to be a kid again and have a place like The Little Gym of Los Altos-Mountain View in which to tumble, bounce, somersault and just have fun.

Looking through the front windows of the new gym, which opened March 5 next to Cost Plus in Mountain View, you can watch children learning skills that promote coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility. At the same time, they are enjoying themselves and don’t even realize they’re learning.

Life in the FasTrack lane

When Kelvin Chow and his wife, Annette, enrolled their 3-year-old twins in the music enrichment program at FasTracKids more than 10 months ago, they didn’t anticipate that their children would jump eagerly out of the car when arriving for their weekly lesson.

“We were actually interested in getting them interested in learning,” Kelvin said of Connor and Kaitlyn, who turn four this month. “Now, they love it more than regular preschool.”

Foothill’s ‘Pippin’ benefits from muted happy ending

Pippin, the son of Charlemagne and heir to the Holy Roman Empire, isn’t the typical celebutante we see plastered on the cover of Us Weekly.

No, Pippin is on a mission - to find his place in life - and along the way takes the audience on a journey as he struggles to divine his purpose.

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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