Dream hospital, new reality

In between aluminum steel framing, pipes, wires and insulation, and well below ceilings dotted with dangling metal strips, it’s difficult to imagine the neat rooms, halls and waiting areas that will define El Camino’s new hospital when construction is completed in 2009. But progress is generally on target with the timeline, and hospital officials began conducting tours of the new building in December for interested employees and hospital foundation donors. Requisite hard hats are provided.

“This hospital will be more functional, usable and have a friendlier environment,” said Ken King, vice president of facilities services, who is overseeing the construction. “Not that the old hospital is bad. It’s 50 years old.”

Large turnout, enthusiastic voters overcome election gaffes

The Feb. 5 primary election presented a series of firsts, even on the local level.

Los Altos Hills kindergartner Ryan Manesh visited the polls for the first time that day, watching his father, Shah, cast a ballot while his grandpa, Reza, waited nearby at town hall. Just a few voting booths away, Gunn High School senior Michaela Venuti tried her hand as an official novice voter – she turned 18 in November.

Expanded downtown buildings to come before council

Taller, broader buildings with expanded use are in the works for downtown Los Altos, based on a recommendation from the Planning Commission last week. The city council is scheduled Feb. 26 to consider zoning changes that eliminate some building size requirements in a move to revitalize Los Altos’ commercial center.

The Planning Commission Feb. 7 recommended a scenario that would allow three-story buildings in a few square blocks near San Antonio Road and behind Walgreens on Second Street. The commission suggested removing ratios across the downtown area that restricted the size of remodeled buildings. A two-story height limit would remain in place for much of downtown.

Blue Shield cuts contracts with El Camino Hospital

After several months of contract renewal negotiations with El Camino Hospital, Blue Shield of California has announced an impasse. In a letter dated Jan. 31 to participating employers whose employees may be affected, Blue Shield representatives said the company terminated health maintenance organization and preferred provider organization contracts with the hospital, effective Jan. 29.

“Our objective throughout these negotiations was to reach an agreement that would continue to provide our members with access to quality health care at a reasonable cost,” wrote Mark Gastineau and Paul Markovich, both vice presidents at Blue Shield’s San Francisco office. “We are disappointed to inform you that we were unable to reach a reasonable agreement.”

LAH evaluating new garbage contract bids

With a 30-year contract between Los Altos Hills and the Los Altos Garbage Company (LAGCo) set to expire in September, the city council is evaluating two competing bids for garbage service.

One proposal is from LAGCo and the other from Green Waste Recovery Services, the company that services Woodside and Portola Valley.

LAH claim prompted by stray legislation

Los Altos Hills officials are seeking reimbursement from the state of California for costs incurred for animal control services rendered over a three-year period.

The city filed a $20,126 claim with the state last month covering July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2008.

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).

THEATER

Letters to the Editor

Is everything really ‘fair game’?

Mr. Randy Kenyon said (“LASD facing $1.1 million deficit after state budget cuts,” Jan. 30) that “…everything is fair game” when it comes to looking at what should be cut to address the $1.1 million deficit our school district faces. I wish that were really true.

Setting the election-year tone

On Super Tuesday last week, my colleague and I at first treaded lightly with our words on the day’s events. We must have sensed that we shared similar views, because a minute or two into our phone conversation about the primaries, she cautiously mentioned that for the first time in years, she was genuinely excited to vote for a presidential candidate.

What gets measured, gets done

In response to the editorial “Politically correct, yes, but practical?” (Town Crier, Feb. 6), Cool Los Altos, a volunteer group of local residents and business owners, says an emphatic “yes!” Los Altos’ decision to invest in an inventory of city operations is not only practical, but also critical to any meaningful reductions in our city’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The city needs to know its starting point.

At the same time, we agree with the editorial board that the net needs to be cast broadly into the community. As such, Cool Los Altos has asked for both a city inventory and a community inventory to be completed, and we are requesting a broad-based, open and flexible task force to involve the community in finding solutions.

Wedding: Kevin Wood and Cassie Testa

Cassie Testa and Kevin Wood were married June 10. The wedding and reception were held at the Garré Winery in Livermore.

The bride is the daughter of Nick and Susan Testa of Los Altos, former owners of the Italian Deli. She graduated from Los Altos High School and is finishing a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Noteworthies

Los Altos Hills residents Becky and James C. Morgan received the 19th annual Avenidas Lifetimes of Achievement 2008 Award from Avenidas, a non-profit agency that helps seniors maintain their independence.

James served as CEO and chairman of Applied Materials. He was named one of the nation’s top 5 “Best CEOs” by BusinessWeek magazine and received the National Medal of Technology, awarded by President Bill Clinton. He has served on the board of the Nature Conservancy and the Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network.

Activist Farrow sounds alarm on Darfur genocide

When actress Mia Farrow spoke as part of the Celebrity Forum Series at Flint Center in Cupertino Feb. 1, audience members may have expected an evening of anecdotes about her celebrity life with Frank Sinatra and Woody Allen. What they got was a gut-wrenching presentation on genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Farrow, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nation’s Children’s Fund, bounced onto the stage, looking and sounding much younger than her 63 years. Within a few minutes, she segued from describing her experiences as mother to 14 children to the atrocities being committed in Darfur.

Kiwanis honors pledge to local YMCA – early

Representatives from the El Camino YMCA are seeing green after the Kiwanis Club of Mountain View presented them with a check for $45,000 Feb. 6. The donation is the final payment stemming from Kiwanis’ 2000 pledge to fund $100,000 toward a teen center and teen programs at the YMCA’s Grant Road facilities.

Except for one year, Kiwanis has donated $10,000 each year to the teen center, according to club President Paul Goldstein.

Aldo Los Altos, Ronnie Lott team up for cancer fund

Aldo Los Altos has scheduled a raffle fundraiser 5-7 p.m. Friday at the restaurant, 388 Main St.

The fundraiser benefits the Sunbeam Foundation, founded in 2005 in memory of Los Altos resident Sara LaBoskey, who died at 21 of Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer.

‘Not So Still … Life’

A colorful collection of art in the form of painted torsos on exhibit at Mountain View City Hall is a vibrant testament to an expression of life and hope after cancer. Eighteen individual creations tell the stories of lives touched by illness and by Tehila Eisenstat, who teaches painting classes at El Camino Hospital.

Invited guests, hospital staff, artists and caregivers gathered in the city hall rotunda Feb. 7 for a reception to view the collection, “Not So Still … Life,” and to praise the inspiration behind the art: artist-students affected by different forms of cancer – and Eisenstat.

Community Briefs

Los Altos History Museum seeks volunteers

The Los Altos History Museum is seeking volunteers with an interest in the fall 2008 exhibition, “Trains Mean Business,” which will focus on the history of trains in Los Altos and how the development of the railroad invigorated the development of businesses 1908-1950.

Residents offer insights on proven best bets for Valentine’s Day

I asked several local women what they considered the perfect Valentine’s Day gift and which gift they have received that means the most to them. Their answers may provide an insight for some of you late shoppers.

Angela McConnell: The perfect valentine I would love to receive would be a note, a poem or a song written by my husband or children expressing their love. A weekend getaway to New York or Napa at a five-star hotel would be wonderful, too!

Students’ ailments postpone Blach activities

Last Wednesday, Margie McCracken called the parents of 76 Blach Junior High School students, absent because of a flu bug. As the Los Altos School District health assistant, McCracken discussed the status of the children’s symptoms and how to determine when they could return to school.

Parents appreciated the steps the administration took to prevent the spread of the illness, but by the following day 99 students were out sick, said Blach Principal Leslie Crane.

Los Altos boys recover from Lynbrook loss, return to first place by beating Homestead

Two days after getting knocked out of first place by scoring a season-low 33 points in a loss to Lynbrook, the Los Altos High boys basketball team bounced back with a vengeance Friday night.

The Eagles left their gym with a 57-46 win over Homestead – the only other team to beat them in league this year – to pull even with Lynbrook atop the SCVAL El Camino Division with two games remaining.

Most of MVLA Mercury soccer players commit to colleges

The roster of the Mountain View-Los Altos Mercury girls soccer team reads like a who’s who of college-bound players.

Sixteen of the 19 players on the nationally ranked club team have committed to colleges for the fall, according to coach Albertin Montoya. Two other seniors are still weighing their options; the remaining player is a junior.

Pinewood girls cut down Redwood

Basketball coaches can teach players to shoot, pass, defend and dribble, but as the old saying goes, “You can’t teach height.”

The first four were good enough for the Pinewood School girls Friday night as they beat a taller Redwood Christian team 57-32 in front of a spirited home crowd in Los Altos Hills.

Foothill distances itself from pack with rout of second-place San Francisco

The Foothill College women’s basketball team all but locked up the Coast Conference North Division title last week with a decisive victory over second-place San Francisco.

“It was a defining week,” said coach Jody Craig, whose Owls also beat Ohlone out of division. “It was a week we wanted to separate ourselves (from the rest of the division) and we did. But it’s not done yet.”

Los Altos boys & girls make CCS soccer playoffs

The Los Altos High boys and girls soccer teams are headed for the playoffs.

Despite losing two games last week, the Los Altos boys had more than enough power points to get into the Central Coast Section tournament. The Eagles (10-8-2 overall) earned the sixth seed in Division II. They are scheduled to open at home against No. 11 Lincoln (8-6-6) at 2:30 p.m. today.

Peek into the past

For longtime Los Altos resident Jane Trowbridge, reaching out to veterans allows her to help those in the present, but also gives her the ability to peek into the past.

As chairwoman of the El Palo Alto Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) service for veterans who are patients, she delivers weekly donations to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto.

Adventures in elder care

Around the world and throughout history, aging parents unable to live independently would most likely live with their children. American culture is unique in its tendency to put those seniors in care facilities.

Having an elder parent under the same roof is a bit like taking a long, hard hike – when the going gets tough, you may wish you had chosen an easier path, but in the end you will be glad you did it.

Advice for senior parents living with grown children

If you are a senior living with your grown child, do not take your welcome for granted. Here are some tips:

• Don’t advise, meddle or criticize. This is extremely difficult yet important. Parents are naturally programmed to guide and correct their children, but most humans over 11 resent parental advice. Advice, meddling and criticism can be the biggest barriers to being invited to stay in your child’s home. People who tend to be helpful may feel inclined to tell others how to do something, but they might have better results keeping mum, or better yet, realizing that the other person’s way might be OK. Even silent criticism will be noticed, because people interpret facial expressions and body language.

Analyzing living alone after 90

I asked my mother, Dottie Portugal – who is 93, living alone, driving, writing and entertaining – to share her thoughts about seniors living on their own. Following are her questions to help a senior make the decision.

— Pam Walatka

Resources for seniors living at home

• Los Altos Senior Center provides information and activities for people over 50. For more information, call 947-2797, visit www.ci.los-altos.ca.us/senior/index.html or drop in 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at 97 Hillview Ave.

• Home Instead Senior Care is a source of home care for seniors. Services for hire include errands, light housekeeping, shopping, companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders and Alzheimer’s care. For more information, call 691-9671, visit www.homeinstead.com/168 or stop by 2444 Old Middlefield Way, Suite B, Mountain View.

Program enhances well-being of seniors

On the second Tuesday of each month, seniors gather at the Los Altos main library to chat. Not so unusual – but in this case, the conversation is health-related with topics ranging from the benefits of yoga to the role laughter plays in brain fitness.

Say ‘hi’ to seniors

Nestled in the Los Altos area hills is a small group of residents with a noble mission: to assist senior citizens or any others needing a hand who live in San Antonio Hills, an unincorporated area within Santa Clara County.

“We feel we have something valuable to share with the community,” said San Antonio Hills resident Gary Vondran.

Turtle Island Quartet coming toMtn. View Friday

The Community School of Music and Arts presents the Grammy Award-winning Turtle Island Quartet at 6 p.m. Friday in a free informational performance at its campus in Mountain View.

David Balakrishnan (violin), Evan Price (violin), Mark Summer (cello) and Mads Tolling (viola) fuse the classical quartet aesthetic with contemporary American musical styles, resulting in what famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma called “a unified voice that truly breaks new ground” and “a reflection of some of the most creative music-making today.”

Dragon’s ‘Delicate Balance’ opens Friday

Dragon Productions’ “A Delicate Balance,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Edward Albee, is scheduled to open Friday and run through March 9 in Palo Alto.

More than loosely based on Albee’s own family, “Balance” takes place in Agnes and Tobias’ upscale household beset by invaders who threaten the pretense of balance in the home.

Bus Barn’s ‘Real Thing’ continues run in Los Altos

Bus Barn Stage Company’s production of Tom Stoppard’s semiautobiographical dramatic comedy about love, “The Real Thing,” continues through Feb. 23 in Los Altos.

The British playwright examines the pain and passion of love in “The Real Thing.”

Menlo Park Presbyterian Church opens new campus in Mtn. View

In an effort to serve more people on the Peninsula, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church began conducting Sunday services Feb. 10 at Open Door Church in Mountain View.

Following the trend of more than 2,000 churches in the United States, Menlo Park Presbyterian members decided to open an additional campus to serve members in the southern part of the Bay Area.

ALAN EDWARD SALDINGER

Alan Saldinger passed away peacefully at his home in Los Altos after a courageous battle with lymphoma on Sunday, February 3, 2008. He was 49 years old.

Alan is survived by his beloved wife, Cathy Kearns, two daughters Alison and Laurel, his mother Rosanne, father Neal, sisters Nancy and Karen, brother Randy, Neal’s wife Elfie and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

BYRON NELSON WELLS

Byron Nelson Wells passed away on January 24, 2008, after a brief illness. He was 66. Born in Neosho, Missouri, Byron spent his adolescence in Los Altos, and was a member of the first full graduating class of Los Altos High School. After completing an undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Stanford University and a law degree at Willamette University in Oregon, Byron returned to the Bay Area to practice law and eventually raise a family. As a lawyer, Byron represented the Sequoia Union High School District’s Teachers Union, and helped the teachers fight for and win one of the most equitable contracts in the state. Byron was passionate about education, and often joked that while he was a lawyer by profession, he was truly a philosopher and theologian by vocation. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and he loved to challenge both pastors’ and laypeople’s ideas about God, sometimes to their chagrin. He believed vehemently that God’s love was sufficient for everyone, and that no person or group of people could be excluded from it. He was a voracious reader, he loved to listen to classical music loudly, he loved all animals; he loved progressive political activism, sushi, and Santa Cruz. More than all of these, he loved his family, and is survived by his former wife and friend, Suzanne Wells of Los Altos, as well as by his two daughters, whom he loved unconditionally and of whom he was enormously proud. His eldest daughter, Jennifer Wells of Brisbane, CA, shares his love of education and books, and his youngest daughter, Deborah Wells of Sparks, NV, shares his love of music and animals. He is also survived by his mother, Corine Wells, his brother, Larry Wells, and his dog, Roo.

A tribute to Byron’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on February 16th at Union Presbyterian Church in Los Altos Hills, CA. In honor of his passion for learning, a scholarship has been established in his name, which will assist one high school senior each year to pursue their college goals. Donations can be made to the Byron Wells Memorial Scholarship, Community Activities Committee, Attn: Treasurer Rosemary Steele, 2260 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto 94303.

JEFFREY CHARLES HOWARD

Jeffrey (Jeff) Charles Howard passed away peacefully on Monday, January 28, 2008 in Napa, California. Jeff was born on April 30, 1954 and was a long time resident of Mountain View, California.

He was an electrician, in business for himself, until his recent retirement and move to Paradise, California. Jeff enjoyed a large network of lifelong friends in the Mountain View/Los Altos area. They were like family. He had a great sense of humor and was himself a true and caring friend. He had a great appreciation of nature and especially enjoyed fishing, stargazing, and storms. For many years he was an avid golfer. In addition, he enjoyed watching car and motorcycle racing, maintaining his motorcycle, and keeping up with the history channel.

KATHRYN (HUDLIN) PURTICH 1921-2008

Mary Kathryn (Hudlin) Purtich passed away at her home in Los Altos on January 31, 2008 after a long illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Richard (Dick) A. Purtich. They were residents of Los Altos for over 50 years.

Born in Cherokee County, Oklahoma on May 28, 1921, Kathryn served her country as a U.S. Navy WAVE, stationed at Aiea Heights Medical Supply, during World War II. She and Dick met at a party in Hawaii and married 7 months later at the end of the war. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary shortly before Dick’s passing in January 2007.

More than a box

As motoring journalists, we typically focus on a car’s powerful engine, its sleek looks and its responsive handling. But a few weeks ago when we drove the completely redesigned 2008 Scion xB, we immediately knew we had to shift gears.

For many of you, the point of a car is simple: It should get you and a few passengers or your cargo from point A to point B with minimum fuss and not cost a bunch to own or operate. If that’s what you’re looking for, the Scion xB may be the best new vehicle on the market.

Preparing your car for that trip to Tahoe

Q: It’s been a while since my car has been serviced, and we’re planning to go up to Tahoe for some skiing. One of my friends told me that I should have my car checked before we go. Should I do it now or can I wait until we get back?

DMV director answers common questions

Q: It’s time to renew my registration. I’ve heard that the Department of Motor Vehicles has new online features that make it easy to handle my DMV-related business without having to visit an office in person. Can I renew my registration online?

A: Yes. You can renew online as long as you have a renewal notice with a renewal identification number, a smog certification filed with the DMV (www.dmv.ca.gov/online/vrir/faqsmog.htm) and a renewal notice that shows your current address. You can also renew online if you have used the online system (www.dmv.ca.gov/online/coa/welcome.htm) and confirmed through the Change of Address system that your address has been updated with the DMV. Visit www.dmv.ca.gov, select Online Services, then click Vehicle Registration.

Whole Foods stores sack disposable plastic bags

Whole Foods Markets plan to eliminate the use of plastic grocery bags at the checkouts of its 270 stores – including its Los Altos location – by Earth Day, April 22.

From the end of April through Dec. 31, the company estimates it will prevent more than 100 million new disposable plastic grocery bags from polluting the environment.

Slowing economy reflects normal cycles, not collapse

The economy is showing signs of slowing, with retail sales weakening and growth ebbing, part of an engineered slowdown and the end of the housing bubble.

Corporate earnings are what drive the stock market, and with a little more than half the companies of the S&P 500 reporting, the overall numbers are quite negative for the index.

Local realtors honor achievements

Members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors’ Los Altos/Mountain View District recognized their peers for their achievements Jan. 18 at the district’s 2007 Achievement Awards.

The awards recognize production excellence of realtors who operate within organized real estate guuidelines and the local real estate community and who produce 13 transactions (sales/listings) which close escrow and are reported as a sale on the database within the designated competitive year. Eligibility is limited to members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors.

Valley CEOs: Economy good, but survey reveals concerns

A majority of the Silicon Valley CEOs surveyed take a positive view of the region’s economy, but they also have concerns, according to the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s (SVLG) fourth annual CEO business Climate Survey. If such concerns are not resolved, they could affect the region’s economy, according to Dennis Cima, vice president of education and public policy for SVLG.

Cima gave members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors a snapshot of the region at a recent district realtor tour meeting.