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Archives » 2007 » Volume 60 , Issue 27, Published on Wednesday, July 4, 2007On the RoadClassic BritsClassic - in the best sense - means timeless, elegant and not subject to change in response to fashion trends. This is the first adjective that came to mind in our attempt to describe the new Jaguar XK series. The series was first introduced for 2007 with the basic XK 4.2 coupe and convertible. This year it has been expanded to include the supercharged XKR, also available in the same coupe and convertible body styles. Fluids: the lifeblood of your vehicleQ: It was recommended to me that I have my coolant and brake fluids checked and changed at regular intervals. Is this really necessary? A: Yes. In fact, the fluids in your cooling system, power-steering system, automatic transmission and brake system are all products that go through temperature changes, have additive packages in them and are petroleum-based just like your engine oil. Each fluid requires attention. BusinessNew local store puts itself in runner’s shoes
When runners shop at Up & Running, a new athletic shoe store at the Foothill Crossing shopping center, they will find staff that put high mileage on their running shoes. Take, for example, Carlos Siqueiros, store owner. He currently runs 95 to 100 miles per week. Ten tips for making the most of an open houseIt’s summer once again, the time of year when the weather warms up and millions of people decide to sell their homes. Spring and summer are typically the busiest seasons of the year for the housing market. That’s when inventories of available properties begin to climb and buyers come out of hibernation. These selling seasons showcase the American tradition of holding open houses. On weekends, real estate professionals place Open House signs at intersections to attract buyers driving around looking at houses. NewsExcellent Eagles
McColl’s success as a senior looks more impressive when considering he played new positions in both sports. In football, he transitioned from offensive guard to tight end; in baseball, he moved from catcher to outfielder. McColl handled the changes, suggested by his coaches, in stride. Baseball coach Sandy Wihtol thought having the ability to play in the field would benefit McColl in college; football coach Jeff Kalb believed McColl’s athleticism would be better utilized at a spot requiring blocking and pass catching. Local teen remembered as larger than lifeLos Altos resident Derek Abraham, 18, who died in a kite-surfing accident near Santa Cruz June 14, was remembered by family and friends at a packed memorial service last week. Nearly 1,000 people attended the June 26 service at Los Altos United Methodist Church. Communication an issue as city rushes to restore radarLos Altos City Council members expressed consternation at the June 26 council meeting over news that staff members did not notify them right away that speed surveys on dozens of city streets were outdated and could no longer be enforced with radar. The five-member council authorized a significant increase in funding - up to $100,000 - to expedite the process of contracting with a traffic-engineering firm to update state-mandated speed surveys. The amount was approximately 40 percent more than City Manager Phil Rose had proposed to conduct speed studies and restore radar monitoring. LAH homes spared from wildfire
When a wildfire spread across more than 100 acres of the foothills along the northern edge of Los Altos Hills June 25, town staff and volunteers activated the emergency operations center and watched in relief as the fire was stopped before it reached any homes. The blaze, which consumed 128 acres of mostly grassland along Junipero Serra Boulevard, appears to have been started by human activity, according to Palo Alto Fire Marshall Dan Firth. He said that the investigation is ongoing but there is no evidence as to whether the ignition was intentional. Former supe uses Tahoe home for fire refugeesWhen Rich Fischer, former Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District superintendent, drove over Echo Summit in South Lake Tahoe last week, he was greeted by a thick blanket of smoke. “It was just amazing,” he said. “It was just this wall of smoke. I didn’t really see flames, it was just a tremendous amount of smoke.” DA looking into bridal shop complaintsCustomers of Panache Bridal who were left without their orders after the downtown Los Altos shop closed suddenly in May now have the attention of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office. The department’s Consumer Protection Unit is investigating complaints filed by customers abandoned without their merchandise, refunds or contact information about how to reach the storeowners. However, the CPU won’t talk about it. News Brief Student settles A former Foothill College student settled his lawsuit with the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, receiving $30,000 for injuries sustained in an accident on the Los Altos Hills campus. Police BlotterDUIs June 23, 3 a.m., I-280 at Magdalena Avenue: Police arrested Marcos Cantarelli, 39, of San Francisco for possession of cocaine and driving under the influence of alcohol. Los Altos may scale back funding for KMVT cable stationSupporters of local cable television station KMVT appeared at the June 26 Los Altos City Council meeting to plead for the city’s continued financial support. The council approved $117,500 in funding for fiscal year 2007-08, which represents approximately 20 percent of the non-profit station’s budget, according to Executive Director Brian Szabo. But council members agreed to discuss the issue further next year and before the city’s contract with the station expires in 2010. LifestylesReal-life CSIs
The popularity of crime shows like “Law & Order” and “CSI” has triggered fierce competition for jobs in the forensic science field and drawn attention to those who work with fragile and crucial crime-scene evidence. Criminalist Laura Hall, who specializes in DNA profiles, spoke at the Los Altos Library June 20 to a small crowd of parents and teens. She offered practical advice on how to make a career in the field, but she left out most of the gory crime-scene details. Films in the fresh air for families and teensThanks to two dedicated local groups, Los Altans looking to enjoy a summer movie can opt to avoid the high prices and sticky seats of a multiplex and spend their Friday evenings under the stars. The Los Altos Village Association’s series of family-friendly movie screenings is scheduled Friday nights at dusk through Aug. 31 on Main Street between Second and Third streets. And while LAVA movie nights have been a big hit with the age 5-10 crowd and their parents, teens looking for something a little more age-appropriate can turn to the new teen-oriented movie nights presented jointly by the Los Altos Recreation Department and the Mountain View Recreation Division. Teen movie nights are scheduled July 13 at the Hillview Baseball Field, July 27 at the Rengstorff Park Pool and Aug. 10 at Cuesta Park. Admission is free. Stepping OutA ‘Little’ play opens at PYT
Town Crier Staff Report Peninsula Youth Theatre’s production of “A Little Princess,” a musical adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s popular novel, is scheduled to open Friday and run through July 15 at the Cubberley Community Center Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. DatebookDatebookDatebook 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). THEATER CommentPublisher’s PerspectiveThe San Jose Mercury News recently announced a layoff of 40 people from its newsroom and discontinued its weekly Perspective section. The staff reduction - a nearly 17 percent cut - will leave the paper with 200 newsroom positions, down from a peak of about 400 seven years ago. The cuts are in response to declining advertising revenues, according to Executive Editor Carole Leigh Hutton. Circulation has also decreased. Since 2000, the newspaper’s revenues have declined 36 percent. Likewise, the San Francisco Chronicle let go of more than 200 people in recent months. The problem: a big slump in paid circulation and advertising sales. The Town Crier has been fortunate to see things looking up, not down. We can thank our loyal readers, advertises and dedicated staff for that. Letters to the EditorThinking big The Town Crier says it’s time to think big about a new civic center (June 20). The old one is “unattractive and sadly out of date.” The editorial yearns for a swimming pool and theaters and more. “There are lots of options,” according to the editorial. Partnering to help fight obesityLos Altos has always prided itself on being a leader in promoting healthful lifestyles. Driving from Stanford back to my cozy Los Altos abode, passing weekly organic farmers’ markets along the way, I spot packs of bikers sporting their sponsorship apparel, cycling determinedly down Junipero Serra Boulevard. No fewer than five Whole Foods Markets provide organic produce within 10 miles of the city, and more than 20 gyms dot the landscape from Los Altos to Cupertino. CommunityCSMA presents ‘Kids Art on Main Street’
Main Street Cafe & Books in downtown Los Altos has scheduled “Kids Art on Main Street,” an exhibition of children’s art from the Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center, through July 31. A reception featuring the 30 young artists in grades K-6 and their families will take place 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at the cafe, 134 Main St. “This is the fourth year that work from students in Arts in Action, CSMA’s arts-in-the-schools program, has been featured at the cafe,” said Linda Covello, CSMA’s visual arts director. “The exhibition includes a mix of subjects and media, including collages, watercolor and tempera paintings, pen and ink drawings and more. Having the opportunity for the children to share their work in a public venue is a wonderful experience for them and a chance for the community to enjoy the creativity of these young artists.” SchoolsCSMA welcomes two new senior staffCommunity School of Music and Arts at Finn Center recently appointed two senior staff members to its administrative team. Development Director Kelly Hudson and Music School Administrator Edna Neivert bring non-profit and business experience to the school as well as a personal commitment to the arts and arts education. CSMA is the largest non-profit provider of arts education programs in the region and among the top 10 schools of its kind in the United States. SportsThey’re in
After watching his Mountain View High teammate make the First Tee Open the past two years, Spencer Fletcher will be joining Adam Ichikawa this time. “I tried the last two years and didn’t make it, and I was so jealous of Adam,” Fletcher said of an event in which 78 juniors are paired with Champions Tour pros at Pebble Beach over Labor Day weekend. “This year I was not going to miss it - I wanted it so bad.” |
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