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Volume 49, Number 8, Published on 02/19/1996

News

Burglaries bedevil country club neighborhood

During the last two months, burglars have entered 11 homes in the Los Altos Golf and Country Club neighborhood, on both sides of Interstate 280 and Magdalena Avenue, and stolen cash, jewelry and silver, said Sgt. Jack Smith of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office.

Cover Story - Calling all the Schotts

New A's owner, LAH resident gets used to life in the major leagues

City Council OKs Beacon Gas remodel

In spite of strong neighborhood opposition, the Los Altos City Council approved at its Feb. 13 meeting the Beacon Gas Station plans to remodel and expand, subject to some conditions still to be worked out.

City Hall Briefs

Los Altos City Council members elected Linn Winterbotham at their Feb. 13 meeting to fill a vacancy on the planning commission. Winterbotham, a landscape architect who practices in Palo Alto and lives in Los Altos, will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Michael Schneider whose term expires February, 1998.

LASD brings moving 6th graders to the community

Los Altos School District trustees decided at their Feb. 12 meeting to take the discussion of moving sixth graders to the two junior high schools out into the community.

Cities give update on the state of affordable housing at League-sponsored forum

Los Altos and Mountain View planning officials boasted of meeting affordable housing needs and state requirements during last week's League of Women Voters-sponsored forum on the issue. Meanwhile, a Los Altos Hills official noted affordable housing, other than granny units, was a near impossibility in a town of million-dollar homes and one-acre lots.

People

Frederick H. Oliver Jr.

A graduate of Stanford University and former member of Stanford NCAA Basketball Champions of 1942, Mr. Oliver was vice president of Van Arsdale-Harris Lumber Corporation.

Michele D. Foss

Mrs. Foss began working for the Los Altos School District as a school secretary in 1978 and left the district in 1991 as an administrative secretary.

Vernie V. Thompson

Mr. Thompson, a native of South Dakota, owned and operated a farm for 25 years and had lived in both Mountain View and Sunnyvale. He was both a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church and the teamsters Union.

Ruth O. Orazine

Mrs. Orazine is survived by her husband Edward Orazine of Mountain View, daughters Marie Orazine of Australia, Barbara Balas of Sunnyvale, her son Edward Orazine of Australia.

Ethel Bumstead

A member of the Children's Home Society, she is an active volunteer at the History House in Los Altos.

Michael Schmidt

Mr. Schmidt, PhD, was a corporate psychologist for 25 years. He was active in the Palo Alto and Mountain View Rotary Clubs.

Community

In The Past...

An outstanding student, Boer was also a member of the tennis team and the Ecology Club at school and had participated in the band. He was a strong supporter of conservation and wildlife preservation and a volunteer with organizations that were helping those less fortunate. He planned to be a veterinarian and worked 17 hours a week at a veterinarian hospital.

Los Altos lecturer to describe day in the Life of the Renaissance

How did a nobleman, a craftsperson, a statesman, a mother of small children, a business person, spend their days in 15th century Italy? How did they eam their living? What did they see and hear in their cities? What kinds of food did they enjoy? What occupied their family life? Payne, a well-respected lecturer and docent for fine arts museums in San Francisco, will offer answers to these questions.

Community Briefs

This month's meeting of the Los Altos Guild of the Peninsula Symphony Auxiliary is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at the home of Dorothy Norman of Los Altos. The program will feature the Los Altos String Quartet of Nancy Durham, Sue Larson, Dorothy Norman and Myrna Westover. Co-hostesses will be Barbara Bateman of Palo Alto and Kay Chon of San Jose.

Works on paper from 'Conversations in Color ' at Gallery 9

"My focus of inspiration shifted from the natural world to unknown territory, my subconscious," Lewis said.

El Camino auxiliary announces scholarships

Graduating high school seniors and full-time college students enrolled in an accredited California college or university for the 1996-1997 school year may apply. Applicants must reside in the cities of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills or Cupertino.

Arts in the area

Today: Renaissance lecture by Kay Payne, docent from the San Francisco deYoung Museum, 7:30 p.m. at the Los Altos Main Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos.

Local democratic club announces candidates forum.

The event will feature those running in Democratic primaries and Democrats running in non-partisan elections.

Red Cross offering earthquake preparedness seminars

The fair will be in the Sears parking lot in the San Antonio Shopping Center from noon to 4 p.m. Free copies of "Before Disaster Strikes," the new American Red Cross guide on how to make sure you're financially prepared to cope with a natural disaster, will be available.

MROSD puts out call for docents

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District officials are putting out the call for district docents. Docents will have the chance to share knowledge and enthusiasm with others while leading hikes in open space preserves.

This Week in Los Altos - an online community calendar

What bands are playing downtown this week? Where can children take a cooking class? Where can you learn a new language, without having to go back to school? This Week in Los Altos can help with those questions as well. Updated weekly, This Week in Los Altos contains the following categories: events, music, theater, workshops, meetings, services, classes, sports, volunteers, support groups, clubs, health, dance, galleries, kids and families.

El Camino Hospital

The battle between the El Camino Hospital District Board and Camino Healthcare raged on at last week's town hall meeting, as a standing-room only crowd gathered to hear opposing views on who should manage hospital operations.

Senior Briefs

Los Altos Senior Center

Just Say Yes! to volunteering at the YMCA

The campaign, which began in January, raised nearly $100,000 last year, all of which was invested back in the community. Volunteers need not be YMCA members or familiar with the YMCA, just interested in improving the lives of at-risk children.

Local group honored with distinguished philanthropic youth group award

The Stanford Hills Chapter of the National Charity League was honored recently for its "generous contributions and outstanding leadership to the philanthropic movement in Silicon Valley."

CSMA offers financial assistance for music lessons

"We are pleased that over the years we have been able to meet the needs of many families seeking music education," said Dr. Nicholas Isaacs, music director. "By offering tuition assistance, we have not only served students at all skill levels, but we have also identified students with outstanding musical talent.

KALEIDOSCOPE features small businesses in Los Altos

The featured businesses of KALEIDOSCOPE for February are Linens of Los Altos, Janus, Cooks Junction, Brian Davino Flowers and a lesson in easy bead-making from the Bead Shop.

CSMA establishes memorial fund for Freelen

Freelen was affiliated with the Community School of Music & Arts for more than 10 years, serving on the school's board of directors, including terms as chair and vice-chair. "Maryce Freelen had tremendous effect on CSMA. Not only did her direct support of CSMA's Arts in Action and Music in Action programs ensure that elementary school children in this entire community receive arts education, but under her leadership, our endowment fund was established," said executive director Andrea S. Temkin. "Because of Maryce Freelen's efforts, many children currently receive music scholarships at CSMA. "

Would-be trail builders - Hidden Villa calls

If you'd like to learn how to build trail, lead volunteers, and help keep our trails healthy, come to the Trail Center's crew leader training session. This weekend workshop, scheduled for April 13-14 at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills, is the first step to becoming a volunteer trail crew leader for the Trail Center, but is open to anyone who cares about our precious open spaces and the trails that traverse them.

Long time Los Altos residents celebrate their 50th anniversary

The couple met in 1937 at Estes Park Chalet Ranch in Estes Park, Colo., where T.E. Spencer was employed as a summer bellhop job at the resort. Peggy was there on a family vacation. They were married Jan. 25, 1946 in New York City, lived in Washington, D.C. until 1956, and then moved to Los Altos in 1958.

Expert offers seniors tips for cutting fat from diets

Medical research has proven that people with high blood pressure, dangerous cholesterol levels or a history of heart and blood vessel diseases, should reduce fat in their diet. But, according to Drew Vranicar, as important as this topic is, it is overlooked by a lot of medical personnel.

Scouting for you? Troop 30 meeting may offer answer

Boys in the fifth and sixth grade are invited to do more than watch television or play video games by becoming a Boy Scout.

Los Altos sculpture competition under way

The competition, open to all artists in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is a juried exhibition with the winners on display for 18-24 months at selected sites throughout Los Altos.

MV-LA adult ed offering Spanish childbirth class

Cora De Le Pena, the instructor, is a lisensed psychologist trained in childbirth preparation. She taught for five years in Mexico City, and three years to Spanish speaking patients at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City. All of her materials are in Spanish and English. The course is being taught Monday evenings, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the Mountain View Community Center, 201 Rengstorff Ave., in Mountain View.

Schools

High schools display musical talents in Harmony concert

Featured will be choral or orchestral groups from both schools, including choral groups led by Los Altos High's Mark Shaull, and instrumental music under the direction of Los Altos High's Don Miller and Mountain View High's Robin Kramer.

Hold the phone for Foothill College spring musical Bells Are Ringing

Evening performances are slated for March 1, 2, 7-9, 14-16, and 21-23 at 8 p.m. Aftemoon matinees will be staged March 10, 17 and 24 at 2 p.m.

Young leader goes to Washington for dose of big-time politics

Ever since age 5, Gabe Gopen has been doodling political cartoons. Now he will experience the nation's capitol first-hand.

LAHS band boosters hold 25th annual spaghetti dinner

Tickets are seven dollars per person at the door, six dollars if bought in advance from a band member, and all children under five eat for free. The menu will be spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, beverage, and ice cream for dessert.

Los Altos School District Schedule

Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., Bullis School, 25890 Fremont Rd., Los Altos Hills;

Noteworthies

"Robert Frazier brings to CSMA a rich arts education background and a diversity of experience," commented Andrea Temkin, Executive Director. "He has been an institutional arts facilitator for the California Department of Corrections, a California Arts Council artist-in-residence at a San Jose High School, and a professional musician, band leader and radio music director."

Random acts of kindness blossom at Santa Rita

Special to the Town Crier

Outstanding students

Anyone who thinks that the senior year of high school is the year to take it easy does not know Mountain View High School's student of the month Anjali Murthy.

Noteworthies

James Warren Harris of Los Altos has received a master's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Harris was among 2,3000 students receiving degrees during January commencement exercises.

MVHS music parents hold a Casino Night benefit

The $15 price of admission includes an evening's worth of fun, food, musical entertainment, starter supply of chips for casino games, opportunity to win a grand prize and bid on exciting auction items, and the satisfaction of knowing you are contributing to a successful music program at Mountain View High.

CUSD offering parent information nights

For a list of locations, times, and schools presenting on each night, call the district at (408) 252-3000, ext. 523. Kindergarten registration will be held at district elementary schools from March 26 through April 5, 1996.

Sports

SPORTS SHORTS

AWARD ACTION: At a recent PALO Club high school football banquet, local athletes garnering 1995 All-Mid-Peninsula Team honors included Willie Howard (Los Altos); Mountain View - Benji Cantwell, Milo Lewis, Ryan McCracken, Deion Moulin; St. Francis - John Mayne, Kris Spraker, Darren Svedeman, Charles Tharp, Andrew Watt and Jeff Zappelli.

Los Altos/Saint Francis Wrestling

Special to the Town Crier

Pinewood Basketball

Special to the Town Crier

Local Sports Calendar

Today, Feb. 21

Soccer

Special to the Town Crier

SCOREBOARD

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Foothill College Basketball

Most teams would celebrate into the night following a conference championship, but for the Foothill College women's basketball team there will be no hooting until the state title is brought to Los Altos Hills.

Business & Real Estate

Los Altos planning director retires after 32 years

When Carol Hoffman retires Feb. 29 after 32 years with the city of Los Altos, she will be leaving not only her job as planning director but also "a whole community of family.

Noteworthy

Jones, a 15-year rest estate veteran, was the sixth highest earning agent company wide in 1995. He has sold all types of income producing property with an emphasis on multiresidential properties.

February Chefs Who Care at Golden Wok restaurant

The Chefs Who Care dinner events benefit the Community Kitchen of Community Services Agency. The kitchen provides no-cost hot meals four nights a week to homeless and low-income individuals and families.

Los Altos recognizes two outstanding employees

Los Altos City Manager Dianne Gershuny named two woman at the Feb. 13 City Council meeting as outstanding employees for their ongoing work performance as well as their personal characteristics.

Downsize your home and increase your standard of living

Manager of Alain Pinel Realtors, Los Altos

Weekly Special

Wet Stuff

2 oz. Brandy

Healthy Choice Goes On-Line

This one-stop site, called "Choices for Living," appeals to food fans, fitness fanatics, adventure seekers, and the nutrition-and health-conscious alike. It covers all aspects of healthful living and is bursting with lifestyle management ideas, free coupon and promotion offers, up-to the minute health and nutrition information and tasty recipes. Its hyperlinks provide direct, immediate access throughout the site and to a network of related web sites.

Annual Hospitality Award presented to Executive Chef, Mathew Smith, Hyatt Ricky's of Palo Alto.

The individual had to have high marks in such categories as: creativity, contribution to the food industry at large, knowledge of products, preparation, menu design, compatibility with staff, food costs etc.