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

Volume 48, Number 50, Published on 12/11/1995

News

Excessive force case involving officer will go to trial

The case of A Mountain View man charged with assaulting a Los Altos police officer during a routine traffic stop, who then accused the officer of using excessive force, will go to trial, attorneys said after a pre-trial conference in court Thursday.

Starbucks insists it doesn't turn blind eye to guide dogs

The assistant manager at Starbucks was right.

Mac's Tea Room claims garbage company overcharged restaurant $50,000

When Ron Shanholtz purchased Mac's Tea Room in 1980, he assumed a garbage collection schedule of five days a week and paid the monthly bill of $1,183 to the Los Altos Garbage Company (LAGCo). Now he finds he was overcharged in excess of $50,000 over a 14-year period.

Being taken to the cleaners suits this woman fine

A woman late to the cleaners to pick up her husband's suit for an important business trip got more help than perhaps she initially bargained for on Nov. 21.

Asphalt work on Fremont Road draw complaints

Recent road work on Fremont Road, which has left street widths varying wildly, from 24-35 feet, has triggered resident ire toward the Los Altos Hills City Council.

Council OKs St. Nicholas request for homeless shelter in LAH

The Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously approved the request of St. Nicholas Church of Los Altos last week to host the Alpha Omega homeless shelter on a temporary basis at its school site in Los Altos Hills.

El Camino Hospital's Camino Healthcare system shows $8.4 million loss

An independent audit has revealed an $8.4 million net loss for the system during the 1994-1995 fiscal year (FY) audit, officials revealed last week.

People

David W. Ellsworth David W. Ellsworth, a native of Hawaii, died at his home in Los Altos, Nov. 20. He was 82.

During the Depression, he worked for the California Conservation Corps making trails in the Big Sur Park area. In 1946, he started his own business, Triple E. Plumbing.

Eugene C. Senter

He is survived by a daughter , Stephanie, his parents, Joan and Gene Senter and sister Carole, and brother Thomas.

Gene West

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Business Administration. Mr. West later earned a master's degree from American University.

Community

Kaleidoscope features holiday gift items

News anchor/reporter Glenn Quinn visits Fermentation Frenzy, Chris Johnson spends time at The Gourmet Works, Carol Curran learns a lot about sculpture and custom jewelry at Connoisseur of Los Altos and Diane Brauch shops for designer bargains at the new American Cancer Society Discovery Shop.

Assistance League receives volunteer award

Dedicated to the motto "All for service and service for all," the Assistance League has for 36 years filled the gap of providing various needed community services: low-cost, temporary housing for outpatients and caregivers at Stanford University Medical Center; new school shoes and socks for children in need; music lessons for visually impaired youth; a weekly senior service day; and Vintage Fashion programs at nursing home and senior facilities. These services benefited 2,452 people during 1994-95.

Los Altos Weather

Friday Dec. 1 62 44 40 Good

Coalition encourages extra care on highways during holidays

The CVCC offers a few suggestions to make holiday driving this year much safer:

Los Altos rec department offering winter classes

Most winter classes will begin the week of Jan. 8, 1996. A limited number of copies of the fall/winter activity guide are available for pick-up at the recreation department office, 97 Hillview Ave., City Hall or at the public libraries in Los Altos.

Service Notices

Navy Seaman Recruit Noriel D. Reginaldo, of Mountain View recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. He is a 1993 graduate of Mountain View High School.

The World on Your Christmas Tree

Special to the Town Crier

Town Crier offers Community Fund

At readers' requests, the Town Crier will donate $5 off the subscription fee to a suggested group. Subscription fees are $20 annually, $15 for seniors and $40 for residents outside the county.

Firefighters' toy collection for needy kids heats up

Los Altos firefighter Tom Alarcon lights up when he talks about the annual Los Altos Fire Department toy and canned food drive.

Community Briefs

for local course

Funds sought for downtown twinkle lights The Los Altos Village Association is seeking financial support for the twinkle lights that will adorn many of the trees in downtown Los Altos during the months of November and December. The financial management of the project includes the cost of new light strings, maintenance, replacement, repair and labor force to put and take down the lights.

Please send contributions to the "Holiday Tree Lighting Fund" care of LAVA, P.O. Box 1076, Los Altos 94023 or call 949-5282 for more information.

Almanac

Los Altos Hills Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road.

Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra celebrates 30th anniversary with holiday concert

Exactly 30 years ago - December 21, 1965 - "PACO launched its Premier Season at the brand new Spangenberg Theatre of Palo Alto's Gunn High School campus. All performances of its regular season concerts continue to be held in Spangenberg Theatre to this day.

History House exhibits old style magic lanterns

The exhibit, "It All Began With Magic Lanterns," is on loan from the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto.

Los Altos Post Office helps out during the holidays

Make sure the contents are cushioned with newspaper or bubble wrap. Nothing should move around if you shake the package.

AISE seeks host families for foreign students

Each year, AISE places thousands of students with families across the United States. Families may select their students according to country, sex, age, religious beliefs, hobbies, grades and family background. Local area representatives are on hand to show student profiles and help families select the student who best suits them.

Boyds visit son stationed in Korea

Mark is a captain in the United States Army, and works as a Brigade S-2 with HHD, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade.

Senior Briefs

Mountain View Senior Center

Morning Forum members get instructions on writing and life

It's been 10 years since writer Ann Lamott addressed the Los Altos Morning Forum. When she spoke last week, Lamott said she didn't remember her last talk because she didn't write it down.

Video reviews

Special to the Town Crier

Just for kids: A page of their own

For the next Children's Page, students K-6 are invited to submit artwork and/or essays on the holidays, the winter season or write a letter to Santa.Please limit submissions to a half-page and use ink rather than pencil.

How Santa Clara County can spare the air

On summer days when air pollution is expected to exceed state or federal air quality standards, the Air District will declare a Spare the Air day and ask you to voluntarily make small changes in your lifestyle to benefit air quality. The best thing you can do on a Spare the Air day is to leave your car at home. For each day you leave your car at the curb, a pound of pollution is eliminated. With the public's participation, this can add up to tons of pollution avoided. Try transit, carpooling, walking, bicycling or telecommunicating instead. If you have to use your car, use it wisely and link all your trips together to eliminate polluting cold starts. Listen for Spare the Air announcements on radio and television, or call the Air District at 1-800-Help Air.

Los Altos Town Crier home page© Copyright 1995 Los Altos Town Crier and BayNet World, Inc. All rights reserved.

United Way campaign kicks off in Los Altos

The volunteer Board of Directors of the United Way's Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Chapter is asking friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers in the community to donate and help kickoff the United Way of Santa Clara County's 1995 campaign.

How to use Town Crier voice mail

Call the Town Crier at 948-9000 and an operator will first ask you to dial the extention immediately, if you know it, or press the following options:

Schools

School Briefs

look for new members

Play-goers course meets Thursdays at Foothill College

Class members attend plays and discuss live theatre. Cost of the play tickets for the quarter will be approximately $50 and there is no textbook.

Jackman appointed president of Foothill-De Anza district board

Mary Mason, Dolores Sandoval and Judith Moss, the three incumbents elected to the board for a new four-year term Nov. 7, also were sworn in. Chancellor Leo Chavez was appointed secretary to the board.

Blach Intermediate School first-quarter honors

7th grade:

LAHS student awarded for volunteer service

Assisteen Auxiliary, sponsored by Assistance League of Santa Clara County, gives local teen girls the opportunity to become volunteers.

Blach trots, donates food for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving week was the occasion for two favorite traditions at Blach Intermediate School in Los Altos: the Thanksgiving food drive and the annual "Turkey Trot."

Egan Intermediate first-quarter honors

7th grade:

Sports

Sports shorts

HOOPS CAMPS: Off the Glass Basketball, led by local coach Scott Kiburis, presents its holiday camp 1-4 p.m. Dec. 18-22 at Los Altos High, 201 Almond Ave. Open to boys and girls in grades 4-9, the five-day camp features introductory and advanced clinics, individual competitions, video analysis and league games. Cost is $60. For more information, call 940-1244.

Prep basketball beat

Special to the Town Crier

Athlete of the Week

David Watts opened the football season by suffering a broken bone in his left foot, causing him to miss most of the West Catholic Athletic League season.

Los Altos pins first in Riordan Duals

Los Altos' wrestlers continued to knock off tough Central Coast Section teams to win the Riordan Duals two weekends ago.

Prep all-league honors

VOLLEYBALL

Girls prep soccer preview

Town Crier Sports Editor

Dec. 9

Pinewood 61, Moreau 59

Family Focus

What they do: This Los Altos father-son duo coach and play for the Mountain View Marauders, a Pop Warner junior peewee football squad.

Boys prep soccer preview

Town Crier Sports Editor

Business & Real Estate

Rancho florist branches out with Christmastime centerpieces, plants

Selling flowers may seem a far cry from treating injuries for professional basketball players, but the co-owner of Just For You Florist at Rancho Shopping Center is blossoming in his second career.

Caught in the middle of a dysfunctional program? Initialize

Special to the Town Crier

'One Warm Coat' program opens at Coldwell Banker

Coldwell Banker, along with K101 FM and Coit Drapery are working together to collect coats for the homeless. The event will continue through Dec. 15.

Realtor offices collecting clothing for Community Services Agency

In helping the poor and the needy, Pen West Realtors are collecting numerous items for Community Services Agency. Bins will be placed in Realtors offices through Dec. 22.

City Hall offers shoplifting prevention film

Copies of the video are available to check out free at the city's small business resource library in Carol Curran's (Economic Development) office at City Hall. Businesses who wish to use the video as a training aid for their own staff may purchase a copy for $10 (payable to the City of Los Altos).

Wining and dining over the Internet

'Virtual Vineyards' offers safe and sane shopping via the PC

Weekly Special

Merchant of the Week

Owner

Christmas Comfort Food From Germany

The variety and character of German food is a revelation to all who break away from the international hotel cuisine (on whose excellence I cast no aspersions). German food does not have the ultimate finesse of French food, but it still retains a quality that today is well-nigh unique: it is prepared with care and with love, with what the French call soigné. The meals in working-class homes, in remote little mountain inns, in the inexpensive vegetarian and temperance restaurants are prepared with the intention of pleasing, just as they are in the hotels and restaurants de luxe.

Recipies of the Week

Little Dumplings

Options aplenty for those looking to start New Year with world cruise

Special to the Town Crier

Chicken embryos may boost libido, scientists say

Special to the Town Crier

Parenting groups offer support, friendships

Special to the Town Crier

Santa, stress and sanity: Where is Norman Rockwell when we need him?

Special to the Town Crier

Local residents named officers of Bay Area Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association of the greater San Francisco Bay Area has announced the addition of Dr. Ronald B. Shilling of Los Altos Hills to its Board of Directors and Sherrie Mason of Los Altos as the Western regional delegate of the Association's national board of directors.