Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Volume 50, Number 37, Published on 09/15/1997

News

Better days for schools?

Local teachers, administrators anticipate benefits of class size reductions, teacher hirings

Bob Gray resigns from city council

Just four meetings shy of completing a four-year term on the Los Altos City Council, Bob Gray resigned.

Local purse stealing on the rise, police say

According to police, there are lots of reports of stolen purses in the downtown area.

Bobcat or mountain lion? Big cat sightings at Rancho San Antonio preserve

At least one Los Altos resident is convinced there is a mountain lion at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, despite a recent search by area wildlife agencies that failed to uncover a trace.

Hospital answers to questions on recent reorganization

In order to relieve misunderstanding over the governance of the El Camino Hospital District, Richard Warren, chief executive officer and administrator, issued a pamphlet last week discussing the history of the hospital and who governs the facility today.

No facilitator yet to handle planning department issues

It was 3 a.m. when council members reached the agenda item for considering a facilitator for team building with planning staff, council and commissioners.

401 Rosita: city considers back-up plans for recreational-use site

In spite of the 22 people who addressed the council saying the city should not do simultaneous environmental reviews of 401 Rosita Ave. and the Hillview Community Center, council members affirmed their decision to proceed with both.

Former De Martini house finds a new home

The 1,300-square-foot, 1920s bungalow on the corner of Edith Avenue and San Antonio Road, formerly known as the De Martini house, soon will move to a new home.

Coldwell Banker takes over Cornish & Carey Realtors

National Realty Trust (NRT), the parent company of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, announced last week it acquired Cornish & Carey Residential Real Estate. No terms were announced, but the acquisition strengthens the position of Coldwell Banker as the leading residential real estate firm in Northern California.

Los Altos Hills woman outruns would-be attacker

At about 8:45 a.m. the 42-year-old runner heard a loud car behind her, said Santa Clara County Sheriff spokesman Sgt. Jim Arata.

Delays for the Tree Farm?

Quorum questions may stall 87-unit development

Comment

Story did not address main issue

Hidden in the article is that the mayor and city manager are generally agreed by the city council and the planning commission to be allowing a planning staff which has been documented to be unresponsive to the needs of the city and the planning commission. I think this is the important issue.

Council needs to move along

We applaud the council for its willingness to hear people out, to listen and to be responsive.

Getting thrown out before the game starts

A Side of Clyde

Community

Community Briefs

The Peninsula Democratic Coalition will feature a group of distinguished speakers 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24, addressing a public forum titled, "Broadening the Debate on Drug Policy." The event will take place at Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.

International program forges friendships

There are a lot of goodbyes being said this month as students with the International Education Program (IEP) at Foothill College leave host families, co-workers and new-found friends behind to return to their native countries.

Morning Forum of Los Altos announces fall schedule

Town Crier Staff Report

Remembering 'Gypsy' - charming, colorful and always helping others

Special to the Town Crier

Stunning photo and ceramics exhibit at Gallery 9

Color photography by Charles Halleck and ceramic sculpture by Shigemi Sanders are currently featured at Gallery 9, 143 Main St., through this Saturday. Both Halleck and Sanders, who are well known artists in the Bay Area, have exhibited their work locally for many years. This collective offering at Gallery 9 presents a finely tuned, visually exciting show that underscores both artists' sensitivity to their respective medium and their intuitive nature.

Garden Club of Los Altos holding plant sale

The public is invited to attend the sale and stay for the 1:30 p.m. program. Don Mayall, vice president of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, will discuss California natives. Admission is $2. For more information, call (408) 255-1293.

1957-67: Los Altos served well by these contributors

50 Who Made a Difference

Fall programs under way at Hidden Villa

Hidden Villa Farm and Wilderness Preserve in Los Altos Hills is open again throughout the week, following the end of its annual summer camp program.

Town Crier 50th anniversary quiz No. 8

Answers:

Town Crier 50th anniversary quiz No. 8

Go To Answers

Popular author to lecture at Spangenberg Auditorium

In "Healing of America," (Simon & Shuster, $24) Williamson asserts that our political renewal will not come from our bureaucratic system as it now exists, but from within each of us. "The era of passive citizenship is over," according to Williamson.

Seniors Briefs

The Los Altos Senior Center is located at the Hillview Community Center 97 Hillview Ave., in Los Altos. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call 948-7483.

A 'Wild Cat Weekend' on tap in Los Altos Hills

The Cheetah Conservation Fund will be holding its annual "Wild Cat Weekend" this Saturday and Sunday in Los Altos Hills.

50th Anniversary Roundup

Tell your friends. The Los Altos Town Crier and the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce need classic cars for the Celebrate Los Altos Fall Festival Oct. 4-5.

Schools

Second youth ymposium set for Sept. 18

Los Altos resident Don Gladstone works at IBM in San Jose, but one morning a week he volunteers to teach math in a school classroom. He's been surprised by the eagerness of the students to hear him out and intends to continue tutoring this fall.

Creation of Tom Baer Memorial Fund

The bulk of the contributions will be put into a scholarship fund earmarked for students attempting to turn their lives around despite a lack of financial opportunities.

Egan begins magazine drive

The drive is the school's major fund-raising event, supporting a variety of needs from instructional support to athletics programs. The drive last year accounted for approximately $36,000 of the Egan budget. The drive runs through Oct. 3.

Cupertino schools ponder option of year-round classes

Multi-track, year-round schools is just one of many options under study by the Cupertino Union School District's facility advisory committee as a means to reduce the space squeeze brought on by growing enrollments and state mandates for class size reduction.

Sports

Mountain View High captures Lynbrook Tournament

Special to the Town Crier

Eagles experience the thrill of victory

Los Altos High football coach Ron Moser saw little need for a team meeting after Friday's season opener against St. Lawrence Academy.

Sports On The Side

WATER WORLD: The Gunn water polo team finished 3-2 at the John Schmitt Invitational, which concluded Sept. 6 in Palo Alto. Senior standout Brad Lefkowitz of Los Altos Hills led the Titans with 13 goals during the tournament. Teammate Dave Swinehart tallied 11 goals.

This Week in Local Sports

Football

Several former prep stars are playing at the next level

Where are they now?

Crenshaw overcomes the elements

It's hard enough to compete in a triathlon in good weather. So when the weather turns from pleasant to nasty, it makes this sort of race even more difficult.

Business & Real Estate

He wants to retire; she doesn't

Charles is ready to leave his blue chip company. He's worked for 26 years, won awards and terminated employees. He's been involved in major layoffs, saying goodbye to a thousand people at a time. Now he wants to say his own goodbye and go sit on the porch.

Loyola Corners wins battle, but farmers' market may be lost

Responding to concerns that lack of parking was hurting the Loyola Corners' Farmers' Market, the Los Altos City Council Sept. 9 voted 3-2 to allow the market to bag no parking signs on Fremont Avenue during market hours through the end of the market's season.

Starcom: an unconventional distributor of start-up equipment for the Internet

A lot of people become attached to their Internet service provider, or ISP, and spend many hours on the Web.

PenWest expands Web page

Special to the Town Crier

Transactions

Los Altos

Silicon Valley feeding frenzy for space continues

Last month, Grubb & Ellis Company released its quarterly market activity summary for Silicon Valley, showing both industrial and office markets continued at a vigorous rate.

Changes at Tom's Depot include new owner, chef and breakfast menu

Joyce Wadkins had to find something to get her out of the house. So last March, she bought a restaurant - Tom's Depot at Loyola Corners in Los Altos.

Weekly Special

Obituaries

Kathryn Winterbotham, an active volunteer for the Children's Health Council and Stanford Hospital, died July 7 after a short illness. An 11-year Los Altos resident, she was 66.

Robert Lundberg of Los Altos has earned a community service award from the National Fire Protection Association for his time and effort in developing the association's codes and standards. The international nonprofit organization's mission is to reduce the burden of fire by advocating scientifically-based consensus codes and standards, research and education for fire and related safety issues.

Rando, a native of San Francisco, is founder and chairman of the board of LeveLite Technologies, manufacturer of LeveLite, a self-leveling pocket laser which Rando developed in 1993.

Engagements

Heidi Jeannene Peter and Scott Randolph Parsons have announced their engagement to be married Sept. 27 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Palo Alto.

The cross: a paradox, 'amazing intersction of God with humanity'

Why is the cross the symbol of Christianity? The English writer G.K.Chesterton asked this question about a century ago. Chesterton's complaint is that the cross was an instrument of torture and death. You might as well venerate a thumbscrew or a headsman's ax, he states, only half joking.

RENEW: Catholics re-affirm their faith

This month a program called RENEW begins in Catholic churches in the diocese of San Jose and the folks in Los Altos are ready. Core groups of 10-12 have been meeting every other week since May, at St. Simon, St. Nicholas and St. William churches.

Life is a cabernet!

The French, according to a recent study, live longer and eat worse than we do. How can a steady diet of Goat cheese and Foie Gras be good for your cholesterol? I am sure it is not, but what has lowered their cholesterol? What is "La difference"?

Learn a lesson from the French

Town Crier Food & Wine Editor

Los Altos hair stylist a big hit as movie extra

We know him as Richard Lane, hair stylist extraordinaire at London 1 on Main Street in Los Altos, and occasional emcee at downtown events.

Committee discusses downtown theater

The possibility of a movie theater for downtown Los Altos was the subject of a discussion at a recent Los Altos Arts Committee meeting.

PA Players tell the story of an unhappy b-day

Special to the Town Crier

Los Altos dentist touts breakthroughs in cosmetic treatment

A look at before-and-after shots of his patients' teeth at dentist Bruce Hartley's office speak volumes for his effectiveness. Crooked, unshapely teeth are straightened and virtually reborn to look as if the patient had taken pristine care of them all his life. Hopelessly stained choppers change to gleaming pearly whites.

Beating repetitive stress

Treating affliction early is the best cure, experts say

Some tips for help with repetitive stress

Logically, one of the best ways to avoid repetitive stress syndrome is to make sure our bodies avoid repetitive motion.

Help your child with healthful eating

We all love our children, and we know their health is affected by what they eat. Yet I was surprised and disturbed to read last week in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, that only 1 percent of American children ages 2 to 11 meet federal recommendations for a healthy diet.

Health Briefs

The Mid-Peninsula YWCA of Palo Alto offers a 12-session course on exercise for women who have had breast cancer. The class will be from 2-3:30 p.m. beginning today. For more information call 494-0972.

Wrinkle treatment with a laser

Thirty-six year old Marilyn looks 10 years younger than her years. This Los Altos Hills resident heard dermatologist Dr. Jean Gordon speak on anti-aging techniques at a Mary Kaye seminar. After the seminar was over, Marilyn went up and asked what the doctor could do for her complexion.

Death Valley hike in 110+ degrees

Dinesh Desai has taken walking to another level. An evening stroll around the neighborhood simply doesn't cut it. Desai likes more of a challenge than that.