AVID support garners avid fans

Many achievements in Lilian Olayo’s life are milestones she never dreamed possible – graduating from Los Altos High School, attending California State University Monterey Bay and her triumphant revelation of self-discovery when she finally knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life – become a nurse.

She never dreamed she could continue beyond high school, never dreamed she could earn a four-year degree, never dreamed she had it in her. But Olayo had a village of support that gave her the power to believe in herself. When she graduated from USF with her nursing degree, it was a testament to the power people have in themselves when they receive guidance, encouragement and support. In a way, Olayo has had someone walking with her through each step on the path of life.

A change of venue for LA pool?

The notion of a pool at Los Altos’ civic center tickled the interest of residents who spoke at the Los Altos City Council meeting Feb. 12. But any definitive move of the hypothetical pool from the Rosita Park neighborhood to downtown is still far off, according to city council members and pool fundraiser John Day.

Elder abuse case highlights need for better hiring practices

As she pursues the case of an elderly Los Altos Hills woman allegedly robbed by her caregiver, Cherie Bourlard hopes the story can help other seniors and families make careful choices as they hire in-home assistants.

Bourlard, a Santa Clara County district attorney assigned to the Elder and Dependent Adult Financial Abuse Unit, provides specialized attention to elderly victims and their families.

Council to fill vacant planning seat, approves Sherwood plan

Candidates for the Los Altos Planning Commission offer the Los Altos City Council distinct differences in philosophy as to the nature and extent of oversight the commission should undertake as it greenlights city development.

Tuesday after the Town Crier deadline, the council was scheduled to interview three candidates for the open seat, which will run through 2010.

Lights flash at all 5 crosswalks

Five pedestrian flashing crosswalks have been installed along San Antonio Road in Los Altos, and a sixth installation is in the works.

The project cost came in at $112,000, well under the city’s $202,000 allocation. The Los Altos City Council voted Feb. 12 to use the surplus to install an additional flashing crosswalk at Pine Lane for an estimated $40,000.

Inclusion sought for Los Altos’ grant funding

A familiar host of local non-profits apply for Los Altos’ block grants each year. The city council directed staff to find ways to cast a wider net to identify small groups that serve city residents.

This year, non-profit applicants were all returning grantees, including the Community Services Agency, the Support Network for Battered Women and the Day Worker Center of Mountain View.

Local grad dies in MV double shooting

Mountain View Police identified the man who died in a shooting in Mountain View Feb. 7 as Mountain View High School graduate Jeffrey Johnson. The other shooting victim, not yet identified, reportedly received a nonlife-threatening gunshot injury.

Residents reported gunshots and a subsequent car crash in the early evening Feb. 7. A white SUV crossed multiple lanes from Ehrhorn Avenue to El Camino Real, hitting two vehicles. Johnson, the driver of the SUV, was pronounced dead at a local hospital, whose name the police declined to provide.

Editorials

While we certainly do not want to see a Wal-Mart added to Main Street, the city’s recent steps toward zoning changes to allow for larger “name” stores strike us as appropriate.

The Los Altos Planning Commission recently recommended the city eliminate building size requirements downtown in an effort to attract new businesses and revitalize the area. Recommendations included removing floor-area ratios that restrict the size of remodeled buildings. Although commissioners preferred that two-story limits remain in place on Main and State streets, they did suggest allowing three stories in selected spots, such as the area behind Walgreens on Second Street. The Los Altos City Council will entertain these recommendations at its Tuesday meeting.

Letters to the Editor

Green youth bonded by common concern

On Dec. 6, Los Altos High School’s Green Team set up a table in the quad and waited. Over the course of a short 40-minute lunch period, we collected more than 165 signatures for the Cool Cities petition.

Reflections

Because it’s a leap year, I have one more day to do everything I have to do in February. Time is of the essence this month. We vote, we commemorate the birthdays of two presidents and we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Wedding: Stephanie Tipping and Charles Withers

Stephanie Tipping and Charles Withers were married last summer in Chatham, Mass., on Cape Cod.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Tipping of Woburn, Mass. She is a graduate of the Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Mass., and earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania. She is employed as an analyst for the publishing industry with Goldman Sachs.

Engagement: Dana Johnston and Erik Marinovich

Dana Johnston and Erik Marinovich have announced their engagement to be married.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Dan and Nancy Johnston of Pleasanton. She graduated from Foothill High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in art and design from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is employed as senior designer at Yard, an advertising firm in New York City.

New theater dedicated to Foothill’s ‘fair lady’

Betty Lohman loved the theater, and “My Fair Lady” was one of her favorites. So it is only appropriate that the timeless musical opens this weekend in a brand-new theater named in honor of the longtime Foothill College benefactor.

“My Fair Lady,” the new Foothill Music Theatre production directed by Jay Manley, opens Friday at Lohman Theater. (For details on the show, see this issue’s Stepping Out section on page 31.)

Novelist Packer shares craft at Writers Week

Growing up on the Stanford campus as the daughter of two professors, Ann Packer showed little interest in writing.

Morning Forum: Perry reviews his critical years as secretary of defense

William J. Perry, secretary of defense from 1994 to 1997 under President Bill Clinton, addressed the Los Altos Morning Forum Feb. 5.

Before his confirmation, The Washington Post described Perry as “soft spoken and humble.” Sen. Robert Byrd referred to the article during the hearings, “We are told that he is ‘humble,’ George Washington was humble, General Lee was humble and Jesus was humble.” Then Byrd moved for confirmation. The vote was 98-0.

Recent local fundraisers benefit from largesse

Although the national economy might be in a slump, Los Altos residents continue to reach into their pockets to benefit local non-profit organizations.

The Los Altos Community Foundation, the Los Altos History Museum and the Town Crier have organized fundraising activities to benefit the local community. Following is a roundup of their recent efforts.

Community Briefs

Voter league welcomes elected officials

The League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mountain View has scheduled an informal reception with elected representatives from state, county and local government organizations 2-4 p.m. March 2 in the Mountain View City Hall Rotunda, 500 Castro St.

LASD honors school community veteran

The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees at its Feb. 11 meeting honored Dick Hasenpflug, a veteran member of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Finance (CACF), for his years of dedicated service.

Hasenpflug, who contributed his financial expertise as a volunteer for the district, is relocating to Scottsdale, Ariz.

Plans move forward for Blach’s 50th

Blach Junior High School has scheduled its 50th anniversary celebration 4:30-7 p.m. April 25 at the campus, 1120 Covington Road, Los Altos.

Activities will include performances by the school’s choir and band, student-led campus tours, a display of historical memorabilia, the unveiling of a time capsule and a slideshow created by Blach students.

Eagles clipped: Lincoln upsets LA boys in CCS

The number of shots on goal clearly favored the Los Altos High boys soccer team in last week’s Central Coast Section Division II playoff opener. But Lincoln had the shot on goal that mattered most: the one that went in.

“They had one chance, and they scored,” coach Vava Marques said about his Eagles’ 1-0 loss to the Lions Feb. 13. “We had a lot of chances, and we couldn’t score.”

St. Nicholas renames tourney for Kannengeiser

St. Nicholas School in Los Altos Hills has renamed its annual boys basketball tournament in honor of Kevin Kannengeiser, the school’s longtime eighth-grade teacher, athletic director and tournament organizer.

The St. Nicholas Invitational Basketball Classic was renamed the Kevin Kannengeiser Annual Invitational Basketball Classic Feb. 1, the first day of this year’s three-day event.

Marshall, Lowe fuel Foothill’s comeback

The Foothill College women’s basketball team beat Las Positas by 20 points last week, but the game wasn’t nearly as easy for the Owls as the score would indicate.

“We survived,” coach Jody Craig said about Foothill’s 65-45 road win Feb. 13. “We got into a battle and had to show our resiliency.”

St. Francis stuns St. Ignatius in WCAL playoffs

In a match-up between the second-place team and second-to-last-place team, the St. Francis High boys stunned St. Ignatius in the opening round of the West Catholic Athletic League boys basketball playoffs.

The visiting Lancers not only won – they won big. St. Francis doubled up the Crusaders, 64-32.

Taking preventive measures

When college student Kristine (who declined the use of her last name) received her first ThinPrep Pap Test in 2003 from Dr. Katherine Sutherland at the Women Physicians OB/GYN Medical Group in Mountain View, results came back normal. But only two years later, her Pap test revealed the presence of low-grade lesions and HPV.

The males’ miracle of da Vinci

It wasn’t too long ago in the timeline of medical advancements that men diagnosed with prostate cancer whose physicians recommended surgery faced an unsettling decision: Remove the prostate and risk a lifetime of incontinence and impotence or leave the cancer alone and risk its spread. For many men, neither choice supports healthful living.

Preliminary trial results enhance anxieties, not knowledge

The recent release of preliminary results from the ENHANCE trial – a study that compared a statin drug (simvastatin) to the widely advertised anticholesterol drug Vytorin – has done less to enhance the public’s understanding of cholesterol-lowering medications used in the study and more to create misinformed hysteria about the tentative and fragile conclusions.

‘Healthful’ oatmeal muffins can protect against heart disease

A cup of steaming-hot coffee is an essential part of the morning routine for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, if your cup of joe is purchased at a local coffee shop, buying a fat-laden muffin or other sweet treat to accompany the java has also become the norm.

Foothill opens theater with ‘Fair Lady’

Foothill Music Theatre is scheduled to unveil Foothill College’s new Lohman Theatre with a revival of the musical “My Fair Lady.” The production is slated to open Friday and run through March 16.

Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe created the musical, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmalion.” “Lady” is a battle of the sexes about a linguistics professor who, on a wager, takes in a cockney flower girl from the streets of London, vowing to transform her into a refined lady.

Arden Trio to perform today in Mountain View

The Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center presents the Arden Trio in a Stanford Lively Arts Informance event scheduled 6 p.m. today in Mountain View. Admission is free.

The trio comprises Thomas Schmidt (piano), Suzanne Ornstein (violin) and Clay Ruede (cello). Edward Rothstein of the New York Times described the group as “not a piano trio at all, but a single musical instrument, played with eminent virtuosity and sensitivity.”

Bus Barn’s ‘Real Thing’ closes Saturday

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

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

Pear’s ‘Molly Sweeney’ opening Friday in MV

The Pear Avenue Theatre production of Brian Friel’s “Molly Sweeney” is scheduled to open Friday and run through March 16.

The lyrical play centers on a blind woman who partially recovers her vision and how it changes her life – in good ways and bad.

Downtown: Moving in and moving out

The buildings may all look the same, but the faces inside of them have changed – or will – as downtown business owners play musical chairs to keep pace with economic or personal circumstances. From food for the soul to shoes for the soles, some are moving in and others are moving out.

A yummy welcome goes out to Fernando Urroz and wife Cynthia, who officially opened L’Acquolina restaurant at 397 Main St. Jan. 19.

Retail sales benchmark portends good economic news

Retail sales – a wide range of products including clothes, restaurants, food and big-ticket items like automobiles – showed an increase in the first month of the year.

During slow periods, some sales areas might be weak while others are strong, and combined they contribute to the total retail number. It is widely accepted that consumer spending constitutes 70 percent of the economy, the primary reason a strong showing in retail sales is an important benchmark.

Avenidas housing conference addresses critical need for seniors

Avenidas and Senior Real Estate Specialist Nancy Goldcamp of Coldwell Banker have scheduled a housing conference, “Where to Live: What’s Right for You?” 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Avenidas, 450 Bryant St. in Palo Alto. Avenidas is a private, non-profit organization that serves seniors and their families in the mid-Peninsula region.

Keynote speaker Jim McCabe, president of Eldercare Resources, will discuss “Where will you live, and what will you do when you get there?”

New program helps moderate-income homebuyers

Meriwest Mortgage, a subsidiary of Meriwest Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions serving Silicon Valley, has joined with the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County to develop a loan program that helps qualified moderate-income families buy their first homes in Santa Clara County.

The goal of the program is to provide the county’s moderate-income families with an affordable alternative to the subprime loans that have plagued homebuyers over the past few years.

“BETTY” ELIZABETH MAY GOHL NAYLOR

Born July 28, 1916 Columbus, Ohio; Died February 6, 2008 Los Altos, CA

Betty passed away after a long illness at age 91.

MARJORIE HARRIS

Marjorie Harris, 87, of Los Altos, passed away Feb. 7, at home. She is survived by her children: Patricia Ann Harris, Sacramento, CA; Barbara Harris, West Valley City, UT; & Steven Harris, Los Altos. Private services were held. Arrangements made through Spangler Mortuary Los Altos Chapel.

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