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Volume 49, Number 39, Published on 09/16/1996

News

A vision question awaits city

Town Crier Staff Writer

'Grandpa Jim' taught local girls a 'secret,' police say

James Stiritz, the 62-year-old Los Altos man facing 10 felony charges for lewd acts and substantial sexual conduct with two local 4-year-old girls, frightened them into secrecy, police said Friday.

Los Altos votes yes for Central Fire, drops Palo Alto

After three and a half years of consultations and conversations, of public input with concerns and city staff output with detailed analysis, the Los Altos City Council voted to "go with Central" for fire protection and to drop Palo Alto from consideration.

Officials hopeful about hospital return to district

The three parties involved in the El Camino Hospital legal dispute are continuing to work on returning the hospital to the district through persistent legal negotiations.

Los Altos contingent speaks out in support of transportation measures

Los Altos commuters like Cindy Rubin and Eric Morley see Santa Clara County Measures A and B as a bona fide cure to what ails them on the roads - traffic gridlock.

Comment

Not the same sweet mom she used to be

Dear Jean: My mother is 89 and has always been in the best of health and so sweet and gentle and kind and loving to my whole family. Recently she has developed an artery clog to the brain and she is becoming quite a change in personality. The good news is that the doctor says this is operable.

Letters to the Editor

The following is an open letter to Los Altos City Council:

First day of school brings host of life's questions

Other Voices

Community

Bus Barn Theater gets new season facelift

Right after the last Bus Barn Stage Company performance of "Later Life," in early August, workmen tore up the interior of the Bus Barn Theater on Hillview Avenue in Los Altos. They insulated the entire building, and installed new air-conditioned and heating systems.

Almanac

Los Altos Parks and Recreation Commission, 7:30 p.m., City Hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.

More mountain lions sighted in Los Altos Hills

Another resident in Los Altos Hills has come forward with mountain lion sightings in two new areas. Reports of sightings started the week of Aug. 19 and appear to be continuing.

CSA gives recognition to its hometown heroes

Jim and Charlene Geers of Los Altos led a host of recipients honored by the Community Services Agency (CSA) for support of CSA's programs that cater to the area's needy. CSA officials presented their 39th annual community leadership awards Sept. 11 during a breakfast at Hyatt Rickeys in Palo Alto.

Pages of the Past

The Sept. 22, 1971, edition of the Town Crier reported that Los Altos paid the lowest tax rate in Santa Clara County. Even so, the total tax rate locally was up more than 12 cents, raising the total to $10.213 per $100 assessed valuation. That figure applied to all properties.

Community Briefs

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) needs volunteers to assist in trail counts during the month of October.

Library Notes

"Threads," a new art show is featured at the Los Altos Library now through the end of October. Textiles of various kinds enliven the walls.

LAH Historical Society announces fall tour

Los Altos Hills Historical Society will embark on their 1996 fall tour Oct. 3-5. The tour will leave at 9 a.m. Oct. 3 from the Los Altos Hills Town Hall parking lot.

Los Altos awaits new sculptures through arts committee competition

Special to the Town Crier

Duveneck Humanitarian Award recipients to be honored

Hidden Villa is offering Josephine and Frank Duveneck Humanitarian Awards to recognize outstanding contributors to the preserve. Honorees will receive their awards Sept. 28 at Hidden Villa.

Los Altos Weather

Schools

Enrollment growth at LAHS triggers additional classes, new teachers

More students are attending Los Altos High School (LAHS) than planned for this new school year. But the unexpected increase has resulted in more class sections and new teachers.

LAYC hosts junior high dances

The Los Altos Youth Club (LAYC) dances are a junior high tradition that go back years. All junior high school students who live or attend school in Los Altos are welcome to the dances.

Alta Vista offers a way 'not just to survive, but to thrive'

Special to the Town Crier

School Noteworthies

Charles Lundsford Withers, was one of the 86 seniors to graduate from the Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. Withers, son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Withers, Jr. of Los Altos, graduated magna cum laude from the college preparatory school, during the ceremony he received the Mortimer A. Turner Memorial Prize which is given annually to the top student in French. He plans to attend the University of California at Berkeley where he has been awarded an Alumni Scholarship.

Curriculum at Loyola School grows in a garden

Student learning grows with the help of a garden at Loyola School on Springer Road in Los Altos. Parents and staff donated time, materials and money over the summer to turn a barren patch of land into a place where both plants and minds can grow.

School Briefs

The alumni committee will be meeting again this year to plan for our 'old' Mountain View Union High School 'Eagle' Alumni picnic taking place at Cuesta Park on Oct. 5. The final planning meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Mountain View High School in the quad.

Fifth grade students at Santa Rita hoist their sails in search of new education

Three fifth grade classes from Santa Rita School experienced history firsthand on a tour 15 hours longer than the crew of "Gilligan's Island."

Sports

Oak Grove outplays St. Francis

Special to the Town Crier

McFall to swim with Olympians

Los Altos resident Lauren McFall, who won gold medals over the summer with the Santa Clara Aquamaids and United States junior national synchronized swimming teams, will have another brush with gold later this month.

Eagles swinging with big wins

Town Crier Sports Editor

St. Francis splashes Notre Dame

Town Crier Staff Report

Lewis leads Mountain View to victory

Town Crier Sports Editor

Sports Shorts

COLORADO KICKS: Junior Martina Holan of Los Altos scored a goal in The Colorado College's recent 2-0 victory over Air Force Academy, and netted another and notched an assist in the Tigers' 4-1 blasting of Illinois State University. Off to a 2-0 start, the NCAA Division I Tigers are in the midst of a 12-game, home-field undefeated streak that dates back to their 1994 season finale.

Business & Real Estate

Real Estate Briefs

The state legislature last week passed the $10.5 billion California Earthquake Authority (CEA). This insurance industry- and Realtor-supported measure will provide some relief for homeowners seeking insurance policies.

Transactions

LOS ALTOS

Graphic designer creates cohesive look for clients

Using a graphic device to move the reader's eye from one place on the page to a key point is the forte of Julie Dempster. She is a graphic artist.

Weekly Special

Spiritual Life Briefs

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins at sunset this Sunday. During this period, Jews reflect on their lives for the past year, make amends for wrongs committed and determine changes they may make in their lives. Special religious services are held in synagogues and centers throughout the Bay Area.

'Tollbooth' author book signing at Linden Tree

Norton Juster, the author of the children's classic, "The Phantom Tollbooth," will be stopping at Linden Tree Children's Records and Books in Los Altos to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the book, which has racked up sales of more than 1 million copies.

New Foothill College Celebrity Forum 1996-97 schedule announced

Foothill College presents its 29th annual Celebrity Forum for 1996-1997 with another collection of celebrity speakers.

Weddings & Engagements

Marci Ann Alvarez and Steve D. Skinner recently announced their engagement to be married Dec. 15 at Mount Carmel Church in Redwood City. A reception will follow at the historic Del Monte Building in Sunnyvale.

Morning Forum announces 1996-97 fall program

The fall Morning Forum program has been announced for September through January. The fall program for 1996

Obituaries

Robert William Eglington, a longtime Los Altos resident, died June 30. He was 73.

Locals help relief efforts in wake of Hurricane Fran

Two Los Altos residents have joined Red Cross relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Fran, assisting residents in the wind-wracked states of North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Georgia.

Local resident among new trustees at Hidden Villa

Williams is a child psychologist who earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Cincinnati.

Local church members help in Mexico

Ben Files spent the beginning of his summer vacation in Mexico helping build houses for the needy.

Politics in the pulpit: What do you think?

What do you think?

Patience is the first rule with hearing aids

Not knowing how to use a hearing aid properly is a major reason they are not worn. According to Marlene Glitzner, they are like a bicycle. You must first learn to ride before you can appreciate the experience.

'Stress Busters' helps teens keep pressures of daily life in check

Grades, parents and relationships are some stresses teen-agers face, and Camino Healthcare wants to help them get a handle on it.

Anorexia, bulimia treatable, doc says

Stanford expert helps girls recover from eating disorders

Transplant mom brings home the gold

Los Altos mom Nancy Lonhart, 37, brought home the gold from the U.S. Transplant Games held recently in Salt Lake City.

Health Briefs

According to the American Cancer Society, California has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. September is national prostate cancer awareness month. When prostate cancer is found early, nine out of 10 men survive.

Blood donations offer new life

Special to the Town Crier