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Volume 49, Number 38, Published on 09/09/1996

News

Help for the down and out

Town Crier Staff Writer

City to buy St. William property

City staff, council members and residents all used the word "opportunity" Sept. 3 when the Los Altos City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting to buy the 5.5-acre St. William School site.

Mountain lions sighted in Los Altos Hills again - town sends out advisory

Los Altos Hills town officials have received reports of recent mountain lion sightings again, prompting the town to release a list of do's and don'ts for residents who may encounter the animals.

Koppel, Simitian spar over endorsements

Fifth county supervisorial candidates Barbara Koppel and Joe Simitian are demonstrating no love lost these days in the wake of Simitian camp accusations that Koppel is not being upfront about her campaign endorsements.

Accused molester has 10-year history of stalking, harassing girls, police say

The Los Altos man facing charges of child molestation and attempted kidnapping has a 10-year history of stalking and harassing six girls in three California counties, according to court documents made available Sept. 3.

Los Altos resident scares off early evening intruder

As a Los Altos resident watched television about 9:20 p.m. last Wednesday, he saw an intruder's face reflected in the TV screen, said Los Altos Police Sgt. John Hughmanick.

LAH garbage rate decrease is put on hold

The consideration of a proposed rate change for solid waste services in Los Altos Hills has been postponed until Sept. 18.

Local DUI arrests soar over Labor Day weekend

Los Altos police cited five motorists for driving under the influence over the Labor Day weekend, up from zero arrests during the same weekend in 1995 and one in 1994, said Jan Ford, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara County Police Chiefs Association.

El Camino Hospital return to district may be still in doubt

The El Camino Hospital District Board of Directors announced at their district board meeting last Thursday all three parties involved in the El Camino Hospital legal dispute have approved, in principle, terms that would transfer the hospital assets back to full district control. However, the transfer is apparently contingent on a major condition.

Comment

Editorial

With their eyes focused firmly on the future, Los Altos city officials took a collective deep breath last week and agreed to buy the 5.5-acre St. William school site property.

Apathetic fiancè gives cause for concern

I'm getting afraid about marriage with him, and he doesn't understand why I'm making such a big deal about this.

Letters to the Editor

Recently the Los Altos Fire District celebrated the opening of a $2.6 million fire station on the Foothill College Campus. This building replaces another firehouse on that same campus that served the district well for 30-plus years. The district used its reserves to pay for the new building thus avoiding the need to get further approval from the district taxpayers.

Knowledge is power

In order to judge the value of a given kind of knowledge, you have to have some of il. Our primitive tendency to fear anything we don't understand can be very dangerous. Too often throughout history, a lack of knowledge has led to attempts to destroy some of humanity's most valuable assets. Today's unprecedented attack on science by the U. S. Congress reminds me of when the Luddites destroyed the first machines of the Industrial Revolution, or the Greek academics killed Socrates. All these acts of violence, I think, stem from the same delusion.

Community

First recipients of the Duveneck Humanitarian Awards 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.

Pages of the Past

According to the Sept. 15, 1971, issue of the Town Crier, the signing of the United States Constitution of September 1787 was re-enacted locally when various organizations led off their patriotic activity with a program at Flint Center presented by members of the local Shriner Club, Masonic Lodges and Masonic affiliated bodies. The Daughters of the American Revolution gathered for a luncheon at Dinah's Shack in Palo Alto. State Senator Alfred Alquist discussed "What the Constitution Means Today" in a lecture at Flint Center.

History House plans to fund education center

Los Altos History House Museum officials and volunteers reviewed plans for a new educational center facility Aug. 27, a center to provide needed exhibit space with a projected opening sometime in 1999.

Morning Forum announces fall program for 1996

The fall Morning Forum program has been announced for September through January. The Forum is in its 46th year of offering lectures in Los Altos and is run solely by volunteers. Officers for the coming year are: Patricia Johnson, president; Cecilia Keehan, program vice president; Betty Loehr, second vice-president; Ruth Hearn, secretary; Jackie Wallace, treasurer; Dorothy Carlson, hospitality chairwoman; Patricia Wilson, parliamentarian and Hyla Cameron, membership chairwoman.

Almanac

Wednesday

Community Briefs

The annual show and sale of the Peninsula Gem and Geology Society along with displays by the Santa Clara Miners Association of San Jose, will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at Rancho Shopping Center, located at Foothill Expressway and Springer Road in Los Altos.

Rotary exchange team looking for volunteers

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International conducts a group study exchange program each year and is looking for volunteers to travel to Belize, Guatemala and Honduras free of charge.

These back to school tips could ensure student safety

To help you stay safe and healthy this school year, McGruff® the Crime Dog says:

Antiques faire flashes goods so Festival can shine

Thousands of cherished items, ranging from antique glassware to phonograph records, will be up for sale at the 15th annual Los Altos Antiques and Collectibles Faire. The event is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the South Parking Plaza in downtown Los Altos, located behind Great Western Bank. Admission is free.

Library Notes

The session will preview "Carmen," "Aida," "Salmone," "Tales of Hoffmann," and "Harvey Milk." You'll hear selections, descriptions of singing voices, and opera background.

Star-studded 'Affaire' celebrates Bloomingdale's opening

It's a Small World, after all ... Our family went on vacation to Cape Cod, Mass., and stayed in a little town called Chatham at a resort called Chatham Bars Inn. Out of all the families staying there, only two families were from California. And guess what city? Our very own Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. We met George Cacioppo and family of Los Altos who were on their family vacation. George had just been promoted to vice president of engineering for Adobe Systems and was taking a relaxing break before heading back to start his new position.

A look at several new books on children's shelves

Book reviews

Deadline extended for Hidden Villa photo contest

The entry deadline for the first Hidden Villa photography contest has been extended to this Friday.

Award-winning wine pours out of Los Altos Hills

Special to the Town Crier

Projects help non-profits with computers

The Community Computing Project combines the availability of donated, used business computers, the need of a non-profit organization to computerize its operation, and the assignment of a volunteer computer advisor to continually guide and implement the organizations total computing needs.

Environmental Volunteers raise money for schools

Cornish & Carey of Los Altos is opening their offices to the Environmental Volunteers (EV) Sunday and Monday for the EV's annual phone-a-thon.

Senior Briefs

Senior Center

Los Altos Weather

Schools

School Noteworthies

Menlo College Students Benjamin Hardesty, made the academic dean's list for 1996 spring semester. Hardesty had a standing of 3.25 grade point average.

CSMA offering financial aid to qualifying students

As students return to school this fall, the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) in Mountain View is offering financial aid to students who qualify and work-study positions for qualifying college and adult students.

Auto shop at Los Altos High School has enough gas in the tank to keep it going

Town Crier Staff Writer

Best reason to attend Foothill - $9 per class unit

More than 12,000 students will start classes at Foothill College Sept. 24. The administration expects a moderate increase of students over previous years, and the reason is $9 per unit for residents.

'Read to Succeed' rewards students, teachers

Students and teachers are rewarded for their efforts in the "Read to Succeed" program. Just ask Los Altos resident Mary Baumel.

School Briefs

Cathy Duffy, author of "Government Nannies," speaks on Goals 2000 from 7-9 p.m. on Sept. 18 meeting of the Los Altos chapter of Parents Involved in Education (PIE). In the book she discusses the government's "quick fix" program for education reform - Goals 2000. The meeting will be at the Peninsula Covenant Church, 3560 Farmhill Blvd., Redwood City in Rooms 22 A and B.

Palo Alto bilingual school gets new name and programs

Celebrating a new mission, name and location, the International School of the Peninsula opened its doors in Palo Alto on Sept. 4

Sports

Live Oak blanks St. Francis, 9-0, in opener

Special to the Town Crier

Dirksen, crew row boat to world title

The Romanian women's rowing team may have won the gold medal at the Olympics, but its world domination lasted less than a week.

Panthers set to play tough ball at the net

Town Crier Sports Editor

Sports Shorts

MAKE A SPLASH: The Los Altos-Mountain View Aquatic Club dives into team tryouts from 4:30-6 p.m. Sept. 16-18 at Eagle Park Pool, corner of Shoreline Boulevard and Church Street in Mountain View. Swimmers ages 6 and older are welcome. Benefits of joining the club include: an experienced coaching staff, competitive swimming and workouts at two pools (Eagle and Foothill College). Over the years, club swimmers have achieved national qualifying times and become highly skilled, proficient and competitive athletes.

Clark splashes gold mark on hometown of Glendora

Town Crier Sports Editor

Business & Real Estate

Sanwa Bank applies to move into old First Interstate Bank building

Sanwa Bank California officials have filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to move their Los Altos banking branch. The application is for relocating the Sanwa Bank from its present location at 600 Los Altos Rancho Shopping Center to a new location at 176 Main St. Los Altos.

Quicken offers homeowner's insurance

The new on-line service will provide consumers with rates and help buy actual policies through the new service. Auto and homeowner's policies will be available later this year.

Architect and Realtor wife find niche in remodels

Local architect Ray Rooker advises Realtors and their clients about the potential of properties before they are listed for resale. Clients might consider the purchase of an existing three bedroom home, but if they need four bedrooms, Rooker demonstrates how to add on space and estimate probable costs.

Transactions

Los Altos

Business Ed. comes to the internet

The Altos Education Network is the first totally web-based educational institution. Altos currently offers courses in entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship which are specially configured to take advantage of the Net's capabilities.

Weekly Special

Move over Mickey: 5 trendy accessories for fall

Signature necklaces for women and fruit neckties for men top Naomi Tickle's list of trendy, must-have fall accessories. And that's no Micky Mouse.

There's a house of fashion in your neighborhood

For women's clothing, the Tupperware concept is in - where women come directly to sales representatives' homes to purchase their clothing.

On being the real you-at Maison Petite

The days are sunny and mild, but the nights are turning chilly, and we're approaching a turn in the seasons again. That means a change in our clothing patterns from a soft yellow summer shade to autumn's side of the color wheel.

Students are making the grade in fall fashion awareness

Back to school fashions change from year to year and this year is no exception. Trends come and go, clothes from the past come back to haunt the racks and fabrics and colors blow in and out of stores like the wind. In Los Altos and Los Altos Hills fashion is as important as pens and notebooks for students.

Football fashion is fans' No. 1 pick this fall

Like their football and soccer heroes, kids and adults are donning jerseys to kick off the fall fashion season.

Women of the 90s buy clothes in the neighborhood

Town Crier Staff Writer

Color psychology

Orange: Considered the color of warmth and autumn. People wearing this color have a strong personality. Orange tends to be declassifying; it also has a broad appeal.

Making the right statement may be a matter of color

Wearing that gray tweed suit to the job interview may not make the best impression if you want to convey strength, according to color consultant Naomi Tickle of Los Altos.

Births

A daughter, Renee Marie, was born Aug. 22 to Los Altos residents Jim and LaRita Desimpel. The baby, who was born at Mills Hospital in San Mateo, weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

30-year pen pals meet for first time

Special to the Town Crier

Local debutantes come out at Peninsula Ball

Los Altos High School student Laura Eng and St. Francis High School's Elizabeth Aileen Spiering were among 11 young women bowing as debutantes on Aug. 1 at the 36th annual Peninsula Ball at the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood Shores.

Noteworthies

Trischmann, a resident of Mountain View since 1969, has been with the Los Altos Sertoma Club the past 20 years. He will be responsible for the administration of Sertoma clubs and programs in Sertoma's Pacific Southwest Region, encompassing Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. Trischmann assumed his new duties Sept. 1.

Weddings

Renee LaBarre and Rahmat Hyder were married July 7 at the groom's home in Los Altos Hills. They had a garden wedding and reception.

Obituaries

Art Davis, a 43-year Los Altos resident, died in his home on Aug. 29. He was 74.

The Vision 21 bike ride report

The following represents mileage accumulated between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Participants sought pledges per mile from supporters, with proceeds going to support the Los Altos libraries' fund-raising campaign for science and technology based materials. Riders raised $5,134 for the campaign.

Marriage vows, new and renewed in Hawaii

Maui, Hawaii, is one of the top destinations for couples seeking a romantic, tropical paradise to get married. The palm-fringed beaches, sparkling aqua surf and flowering rain forests are wonderful places to be married or renew vows.

Best of the West ... Tahoe Shore, that is: Exquisite food at the Lake and a good view

The best thing about eating out at Lake Tahoe is that you can have good food as well as a great view.

Local residents escape fire on Alaskan cruise ship

Alan and Nancy Marsten of Los Altos and Marjorie and Bob Howe of Los Altos Hills recently celebrated a safe return to land at the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau, Alaska.

Touring Bendigo

Reed poses here with one of the editorial employees at the Bendigo Advertiser, the city's daily newspaper.