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Volume 49, Number 43, Published on 10/14/1996

News

Geared up for the commute

Town Crier Staff Writer

Participants needed for Los Altos 'vision' process

City council members set a goal to create a community vision, they hired a consultant to present the process, and now -

City manager receives 10 percent raise

The Los Altos City Council voted a 10 percent raise for City Manager Dianne Gershuny, including salary and bonus, at its Oct. 8 meeting.

Los Altos City Council puts 89-foot antenna request on hold

A GTE Mobilnet 89-foot pole won't be going up in the apricot orchard behind the Los Altos Police Department any time soon.

Rabbit decapitations spur cause for concern

Los Altos has suddenly become a dangerous place for pet rabbits.

Council approves 3-story condo project, residents divided on housing proposal

Using words like "sorely needed" and "affordable," the Los Altos City Council unanimously approved a three-story 24-unit condominium project for the corner of El Monte Avenue and Foothill Expressway.

Police charge LAH man with auto theft

Police arrested a Los Altos Hills man at his home on charges of auto theft, possession of stolen property and a previous outstanding bench warrant for a "failure to appear" regarding a traffic violation.

Police find 2 more victims of alleged child molester

Los Altos police have identified two more children who were allegedly molested by James Alvin Stiritz at a local nursery school, said Sgt. Bob Lacey.

Comment

So long - for this side of the paper, anyway

I've just been promoted laterally. I'm moving from the personal side of this newspaper to the business side of this wonderful paper.

We're serious about hospital advisory board

We encourage readers to send names of suggested candidates for the panel, using the coupon below. Or you can call our 24-hour Town Crier Feedback Line at 948-9000, ext. 7. We're serious - we want to hear from you.

Los Altos City Council fills a housing need

The Los Altos City Council wisely saw the forest for the trees when it approved a 24-unit condominium project at Fremont and El Monte avenues. The approval paves the way for needed, relatively affordable housing in a city where a fixer-upper can run $500,000.

Civil rights initiative enacts what is only fair

The California Civil Rights Initiative, Proposition 209, is on the ballot this November. If it passes, how will it affect life for most Los Altans? The answer, in my view, is that the changes might not be that great, but they will be overwhelmingly good.

Letters to the Editor

It is remarkable that the present Clinton Administration has been immune to charges that would have brought down any previous administrations.

Community

New cop on the block in Los Altos

John Korges, the newest cop in town, followed his heart when he left the Oceanside Police Department after seven years to join the force in Los Altos.

Los Altos Hills Historical Society receives two grants

The Los Altos Hills Historical Society has been awarded two grants that will help fund the building of a shed near Town Hall. The shed will be a permanent home to a collection of farm tools that were once used in the area.

49ers talent on hand for the Masquerade Ball in San Jose

Special to the Town Crier

Library Notes

Local resident Ted Hatrak provided the art production and layout.

Winners named in Hidden Villa Photo Contest

Eleven photographers won recognition for their artistic portrayals of the environment and ethnic diversity at Hidden Villa's first-ever photography contest, held in conjunction with the Sept. 28 Humanitarian Awards.

AAUW voter education campaign aims to stir up voters

In 1994, 2,550 woman who had voted in 1992 in Los Altos and Mountain View did not go to the polls.

Pages of the Past

As reported in the Oct. 20, 1971, issue of the Town Crier, an advertisement placed by Mrs. David Horine in the Town Crier Bulletin Board, offering free empty baby food jars, had brought an overwhelming response.

Page Mill Road landslide repair completed in LAH

The Los Altos Hills City Council called a special meeting last Wednesday to approve the Page Mill Road Landslide repair project. The project was completed within a three-week period after numerous complaints from residents in the area.

Photography lecture held in Los Altos

Three projectors, dissolve techniques and musical choreography make the multi-image photos presented by world traveler and Los Altos resident Dr. Roger Bishop seem almost like an artistic movie. He will share his images of Turkey, French impressionist paintings and macro photographs of irises at a presentation and lecture in the Los Altos Library Community Room at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23.

Community Briefs

The city of Los Atlos is sponsoring a home composting workshop 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 26 at the Los Altos Youth Center, located behind City Hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road.

Almanac

Wednesday

Columnist shares work habits at local Rotary Club

The face of Leigh Weimers can often be found above his column in the Living Section of The San Jose Mercury News. But, as he wrote in a recent column, "You never know when a familiar face (or faces) will turn up unexpectedly in your midst."

Los Altos Weather

Schools

MVHS site for NetDay II volunteer training session

Mountain View High School (MVHS) was selected as the site for the all-day NetDay volunteer training on Sept. 28.

100-year old makes CSMA concert debut

A 100-year old will make its debut in "Forty Fingers Flying: Piano Quartets and Duos," a free concert 4:30 p.m. this Saturday in the Brunello Recital Hall at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) in Mountain View. The turn-of-the-century performer is a European Steinway grand piano donated by a Los Altos Hills family.

57 from Los Altos High named AP Scholars

Los Altos High School has 57 students who were named Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars by the College Board because of their exceptional scores on the college-level AP examinations given this past May.

Local students attend Bellarmine, receive National Merit honors in three different tests

Seven Los Altos and Los Altos Hills students who attend Bellarmine College Preparatory school in San Jose qualified as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition.

School Briefs

The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) and the Fremont Educators Association (FEA), which represent the teachers, continue negotiations on a possible contract. Since May 1996 the two have been trying to agree upon a contract. Negotiations have moved to the mediation process. Oct. 7 was the latest meeting. A California state mediator has been called in to help reach a conclusion.

Safe Moves shows Springer students 'stop, look and listen'

The students of Springer School in Los Altos chanted, "Stop, look and listen," last Thursday as they completed a bicycle and traffic safety rodeo.

Local moms volunteer to help Bellarmine students with fashion show fund-raiser

The 42nd annual Bellarmine Mothers' Guild Fashion Show to benefit the school's scholarship endowment fund will be on Nov. 1 in the Imperial Ballroom at the San Jose Fairmont Hotel. Ten senior level students from the Los Altos area attend Bellarmine and three parents are donating their time to this cause.

Local students learn spirituality during The King's Academy camp

Special to the Town Crier

Sports

Fair and Holan square off in Santa Clara Classic

In Colorado's 2-0 win, Holan (Homestead High) tallied the first goal in the 41st minute on a solo run up the left side and shot into the far corner of the net.

Raptors, Longhorns hoop it up

Special to the Town Crier

Athlete Of The Week

A senior outside hitter for Mountain View High's volleyball team, Lezchuk amassed 36 kills on 61 attempts, 26 digs and four aces en route to a 15-7, 12-15, 15-7, 16-18, 15-9 win over Los Altos last Tuesday.

Bellarmine wins battle with St. Francis

Special to the Town Crier

Eagles play fine 1st half, but lose Homecoming game

Town Crier Sports Editor

Defense keeps Eagles afloat and winning

Town Crier Staff Report

Sports Shorts

On the volleyball court, former Los Altos High standout Amy Cheli and her Fresno State University team will play at San Jose State University 7 p.m. Saturday. A senior outside hitter, Cheli has a season-best eight kills vs. Pitt and 14 digs vs. Wyoming; career-wise, she has double-figure kills in 28 matches, double-figure digs in 38 matches and 24 double-doubles in 100 matches. As of Oct. 8, the Bulldogs were 13-4 overall and 2-2 in the West Athletic Conference.

Mountain View hits and digs past Los Altos

Town Crier Sports Editor

Panthers outlast opponents

Town Crier Sports Editor

Los Altos footballers rumble into win column

Town Crier Staff Report

Business & Real Estate

Business Noteworthies

The event will feature a program broadcast live over the firm's satellite network. The program, which will air twice, will explore opportunities and challenges offered with a career with Edward Jones. Edward Jones has more than 3,300 offices in 50 states. Edward Jones investment representatives offer insured tax-free bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit and the common stock of companies For more information, call 941-9175.

Burt Avery honored with a major award

Special to the Town Crier

Landscaping is more than grass and flowers - it's a home investment

It's fall planting time for trees and shrubs and, in general, doing some landscaping around the house. Landscaping is more than grading, sloping, drainage, lighting and fencing. It's an investment; one that can pay off in terms of energy savings today, and tomorrow when it's time to sell and move on.

New Walther's owner returns to hometown

They say you can't go back home again, but that's not true for Tom Williams. He attended Los Altos High School many years ago, when he lived three blocks from Walther's Tile and Floor Covering on El Camino Real. Last month, he bought the store.

Weekly Special

'Music of the Night' is brightest star in the Flint Center's sky

Review

Service

Grziwok has received many certificates of achievement, training, and appreciation from the U.S. Army, including the certificate of achievement from the Secretary of Defense.

Anne Frank exhibit in Mt. View promotes respect and diversity

In an effort to build tolerance and respect for diversity, Mountain View's Anne Frank Exhibit Committee and Silicon Graphics Inc. will present the renowned "Anne Frank in the World: 1929-1945 exhibit" through Nov. 11 in the fourth floor gallery at Mountain View City Hall, 500 Castro St.

Weddings

Shari Bleckman and Scott Lessing were married Sept. 28 at the Los Altos Golf & Country Club. Their brothers, Scott Bleckman and Brett Lessing, and sisters, Suzanne Amato and Kristina Lessing, served as attendants.

Obituaries

Leona Thelea Capito, a member of the Los Altos United Methodist Church, died Aug. 7 in Madison, Wis. She was 90.

Los Altos musician George Paulsen played with Big Band greats

George William Paulsen, a long-time resident of Los Altos who played with some of the giants of the Big Band Era, died Oct. 1, after a brief illness. He was 79.

Moms in Touch International says 'Let us pray'

The five mothers arrived in a rush on a recent Thursday morning, having just dropped off their children next door at Oak Elementary School.

The ways of Means

Spreading their wings and seeing the world is perhaps what many seniors look forward to in retirement. Leland Means and his wife, Mariguita, did. Means recruits other retired seniors for the International Executive Service Corps (IESC).

Spiritual Life Briefs

The Men's Group at the Los Altos United Methodist Church raised $2,500 during a June Bowl-A-Thon, which they recently presented to the Bay and Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Mountain View Senior Briefs

Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Free glaucoma screening clinic. Visual acuity and an examination of the back of the eye including tension readings will be available at no cost.

Long term care insurance may be best option

Special to the Town Crier

Plan to avoid a crisis

Attorney at Law

Social capital and regaining control of your wealth

Special to the Town Crier

Beware the friendly voice on the phone - a scam artist may be at work

A recent telemarketing scheme that victimized local residents calls attention to a nationwide problem that likely won't go away anytime soon.

Senior coordinating council features using pets for therapy

Los Altos residents return from Slovakia volunteer

Four out of five vacation travelers are seniors and most are retired. That's no surprise because retirees have more flexibility to travel and can go on longer expeditions than working folks with children. Los Altos resident Tom Hohn and his wife, Mary, spend their retirement by volunteering overseas, and they just returned from a one month volunteer mission in Kosice, Slovakia.

Avoiding the 15 percent excise tax on excess distributions

Special to the Town Crier

Lu Ann's Fashions a favorite for women's

If you're looking to go away for that last perfect autumn weekend or one final trip to your favorite bed-and-breakfast before it closes for the season, try visiting Lu Ann's Fashions in Blossom Valley Shopping Center.

'Miss Daisy' drives into audience's heart

Special to the Town Crier

League offers lots of options for election help on-line

For candidates and measures on your ballot, check out Smart Voter for Santa Clara and San Mateo counties by keying: http://www.smartvoter.org