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Volume 49, Number 3, Published on 01/15/1996

News

Cleaners' clerk robbed at knife point

One man held a knife on the clerk while the other cleaned out the cash register Jan 9 at 5:50 p.m. at Avian Cleaners on North San Antonio Road in Los Altos.

A rash of robberies plagues Los Altos

Los Altos teen fatally shoots himself in the head

Town Crier Staff Report

Armed robbery at Wells Fargo's downtown branch

An armed robber escaped on foot with an undetermined amount of cash from the Los Altos Wells Fargo branch at 100 Main St. last Wednesday evening.

Taking a bite out of crime

Los Altos gets its own police dog to usher in K-9 program

Oops, wrong number - and escapee is back in jail

When Maliu M. Mafua called 911 early in the morning Jan. 6 from a Los Altos pay phone, the Los Altos Police responded immediately.

Police offer safety tips to avoid the serial rapist

Palo Alto Police confirmed Jan. 3 that the serial rapist, who has raped women from Sunnyvale to Menlo Park in seven attacks from Aug. 21 to Dec. 18, is still at large.

City Council revisits buying St. William site

The Los Altos City Council voted 3-2, in front of a standing-room-only crowd Jan. 9, to reconsider buying some or all of the 5.74-acre St. William School property.

Recycling

One person was fined $128 and placed on probation for taking newspapers from in front of homes on recycling day in August, while another was fined $245 and placed on probation for removing cardboard from a dumpster in the downtown parking plaza near Main Street, said City Attorney Robert K. Booth, Jr.

People

Ann Kamerschen

A member of the American Legion Auxiliary, she was very active in the Los Altos community and the St. William Catholic Church. A native of Arkansas, she was a homemaker for 72 years.

Stuart F. Svedeman

A native of Milton, Mass., he was a printer with George Banta Corp. and a member of Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club.

LeRoy Taylor

An electrician for 40 years, he is survived by his wife, Evelyn Taylor of Los Altos; children, Suzanne Taylor of La Selva Beach, Joanne Porter of Foster City, Paul Taylor of Greshem, Ore., and Marianne Perry of Lake Havasu, Ariz.

Walter James Virgin

A graduate of the University of Idaho, he received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, and after a three-year period as associate professor at the University of Idaho he spent most of his life as a research manager in plant pathology for Del Monte Foods Corp.

Dolores Pierson

A member of the First Baptist Church of Los Altos, she is survived by her husband of 46 years, Howard Pierson; three children, David Pierson of Mill Valley, Nancy Weddell of Chico, Martha Watson of Los Altos; and mother, Ella Mae Morris of Los Altos.

Aria Bradbury Cogswell

A homemaker for 75 years, she is the widow of the late Capt. Wilson Cogswell USN Ret. She is survived by her daughters, France Keller of Menlo Park and Patricia Ann Crawford of Livermore.

May Ruth Gordon

An ardent lover of art, music, dance and literature, she was a volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital and an active member of Almaden Hills University Methodist Church and the American Association of University Women. She was active in churches located in Los Altos, Burlingame and San Jose.

Daisy May Stiver

A homemaker for 69 years, she was a charter member of the First Baptist Church of Los Altos.

Community

Free retirement workshop at El Camino Hospital

This course in the retirement series was previously offered only to employees such as ESL, Apple and 3Com.

Los Altos couple repeat wedding vows for 50th anniversary

The Swindles were married at Stanford Memorial Church Dec. 16, 1945 after Mr. Swindle returned from World War II having served with the 5th Air Force in the Pacific Theater.

Community Briefs

at LAH Town Hall

Friends of the Library holding winter book sale

The Friday sale is open from 7-9 p.m. for members only. Family memberships are available at the main library for $5. No memberships will be sold on opening night.

In The Past...

As reported in the January 20, 1971 issue of the Town Crier, Los Altos joined the growing number of cities who endorsed the concept of a Mid-Peninsula Regional Park District.

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.

Los Altos Weather

Friday Jan. 5 63 44 30 Good

Town of Los Altos Hills clean-up day Saturday

The collection truck located at Magdalena and Highway 280 is no longer available for Los Altos Hills residents. This site is now designated for customers in the unincorporated area of Los Altos Hills only.

Senior Briefs

Los Altos Senior Center

Finding your interests on the Internet

Some search engines rely on the home page designers to submit their URL address, and subject of the page, while others perform a keyword search through home page titles, URLs, headers and text. Search engines relying on submissions are more specific in their findings, so results are quick. Unfortunately, results may be limited and due to the large number of submissions, it may take up to a month for a page to get listed. On the other hand, search engines that scan through the text of home pages may return several thousand results after a keyword search. Both types of search engines are useful, and I use several of them, depending on what I'm looking for, and to compare results.

'Just Say Yes!' to volunteering at the YMCA

The campaign, scheduled to begin 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.

Police veteran LeMier retires

LeMier began with Los Altos May 15, 1970, and was promoted to sergeant July 1, 1979.

Book review

Special to the Town Crier

Rose society conducts pruning workshop in Redwood Grove

The annual rose pruning workshop in the Redwood Grove Nature Preserve usually goes unnoticed except by followers of the Santa Clara County Rose Society (SCCRS).

Family history classes now available on Sundays

Beginning Sunday, she is offering a series of eight classes for everyone who wants to learn how to locate and organize family history materials.

Almanac

Today

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.

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."

January Chefs Who Care at La Fiesta restaurant

The dinner will include a choice of entree served with rice, beans and beverage, and a complimentary cup of consommé de pollo. The entrees have a choice of Grandma's Especial, enchiladas de Mole, chimichanga, enchilada and taco combination, fiesta salad or burrito verde.

Schools

Mountain View High Student of the Month

Homecoming is a time for individual classes to come together, increasing spirit through class competitions, flower parties and float construction. Homecoming Week culminates in a full day of activities topped off with our traditional dance.

Board recognition given to Foothill College instructor

Foothill College President Bernadine Fong recognized retiring Foothill instructor William Tinsley for his many years of service and his participation in Foothill activities at the Jan. 8 Foothill-De Anza Community College District board meeting.

Harvard, Yale and others accept sizable crop of high school seniors

Robyn Fay, administrative director for the Mountain View-Los Altos High School Foundation, said the admission of local students speaks for the distinguished reputation of Los Altos-area public schools. It's also a testament, she said, to the teaching and counseling staffs.

School Briefs

7 percent for winter term

Rec department pushing after-school woodworking, cooking classes

For kids not interested in after-school sports or for those who would like something to do when their school day is done, the Los Altos Recreation Department is offering an alternative with the help of Blach and Egan intermediate schools.

Foothill-De Anza chancellor to be inaugurated Feb. 8

The guest speaker will be historian Daniel J. Boorstin, a Pulitzer Prize winning author and Librarian of Congress emeritus. Boorstin's speech will address American culture and values.

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.

Egan Intermediate first-quarter honors

7th grade:

Los Altos High School staff member of the month

Students appreciate Salsman de Rodriguex's cheerful attitude and her willingness to help students at any time. Coming to Los Altos three years ago from St. Francis High School, she teaches Spanish IV/V/VI AP, Spanish III and Spanish III Honors classes. In addition to teaching her classes, Salsman de Rodriguex also serves as advisor to the sophomore class, the Spanish Club, the Star Trek Club and the Coffee Club.

Los Altos Departmental Students of the Month

Business academy - Christina Nieto

Sports

Prep basketball

Town Crier Sports Editor

Sports Shorts

The players are: Lynsey Barkoff, Lisa Battle, Ashley Bjorklund, Stacey Blasing, Wende Blasquez, Katie Boyden, Libby Kennedy, Marissa Kraines, Suzanne Larson, Rebecca Nash, Amy Olander, Lindsay Parker, Sami Shokrgozar, Erica Simons, Lauren Tippets, Jessica Uphoff and Amy VanBuren.

Girls prep basketball

Town Crier Sports Editor

Calcagno goes to A's

Ron Calcagno's exciting 24-year run as St. Francis High's head football coach came to an end last Friday, when he announced his departure to become director of community affairs with the Oakland A's.

Scores

BOYS BASKETBALL

Prep roundup

Los Altos' wrestlers looked to the past for inspiration in their meeting with powerful Santa Clara last Thursday. In Nick Testa's first year coaching in 1991, the 12-time Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division champs and three-time Central Coast Section winners blasted his Eagles, 76-0.

Girls prep soccer

Town Crier Sports Editor

Business & Real Estate

Free state income tax filing assistance available

Answers to the most commonly asked state tax questions, information about your state refund, and tax forms for both state and federal are available through F.A.S.T. (Fast Answers about State Taxes) telephone service. The F.A.S.T. number is 1-800-338-0505.

New officers named on MV-LA district school board

"The two primary areas of focus for the board this year will be continuing to improve the educational opportunities we offer to all our students and to begin rebuilding our facilities to match the talents and abilities of our students, faculty and staff," he said.

Business Briefs

new president and CEO

Wining and dining over the Internet

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

Caught in the middle of a dysfunctional program? Initialize

Special to the Town Crier

What the IRS requires for electronic record-keeping

Special to the Town Crier

Selecting the right credit card from your mailbox

Having too many credit cards can work against you even if you don't use them. That's because some lenders review your credit application, add your credit limits as well as your actual debts. A large available credit limit may cause a lender to think you are financially over-extended and may even result in the denial of a future loan request.

PenWest Realtors to raise funds for homeless

The foundation's goal is to offer "a temporary umbrella" of emergency housing grants to help the working poor at risk of homelessness due to major injury, illness, death in the family or other catastrophe that has depleted their financial reserves.

Weekly Special

Happenings

As many of you know who attended the dinner this past October, this is a true culinary event that must be experienced.

Recipe Of The Week

You will enjoy serving these golden, light, easy to make rolls. The dough keeps well in the refrigerator for a week.

An Antionette answer on health

Special to the Town Crier

Spinning wheels: bycicle tours, talks and trips

Vacations are times for rest and relaxation for some and for others it is just a chance to get away from it all and see the world. Seeing the world from a different angle and staying healthy go hand-in-hand when traveling by bicycle.

Health Tips for the International Traveler

Special to the Town Crier

Health Briefs for 1/17/96

Doctors at Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford are seeking volunteers to participate in a study of diabetes prevention. The study is entering its second year of a sex-year study to determine if the onset of juvenile diabetes (type 1 diabetes) can be delayed or prevented in individuals at high risk for developing the disease.

Camino Healthcare Ophthalmologist Returns from

Mountain View, CA---Ophthalmologist Barbara C. Erny, M.D., recently returned from a five-week trip to India, where she donated time and energy to share her medical expertise with Indian physicians. Erny is part of the medical staff for El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, which serves the Los Altos and Los Altos Hills communties, among others. Erny is also chair of Camino Healthcare's Vision Care Center in Sunnyvale.

A book review

Town Crier Staff Report

El Camino surgeon reconstructs an ear for 7 year old

Dr. Burt Brent, a Mountain View surgeon, made his 1,000th patient a very special gift. He gave 7 year-old Michelle Filkoff a completely restored ear. The ear, missing at birth, will now enable Michelle to lead a normal life.