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Volume 50, Number 22, Published on 06/02/1997

News

Telling tails of Los Altos

Town Crier Staff Writer

Los Altos City Council caps campaign spending at $12,000

In response to Proposition 208, the campaign spending measure passed by state voters last November, the Los Altos City Council approved a spending ceiling of $12,000 for each candidate for the council elections this fall. That equates to 44 cents per resident of the city.

Officials: local teen drinking 'out of control'

Area police officers note a "resurgence" in teen drinking and want to get the word out to parents for help.

Importance of adult role models for youth discussed at 'Generations' symposium

Approximately 150 people, youth and adults alike, showed last Thursday for "Partners for New Generations," a youth symposium aimed at encouraging adult mentors. The event, held at Graham Middle School in Mountain View, was sponsored by Mountain View and Los Altos Rotary clubs.

Results of LASD parcel tax vote next week

The measure, which calls for a $96 increase in the eight-year tax (from $168 to $264 annually), needed a two-thirds majority to pass.

Animal control contract purrs along in Los Altos Hills

The Los Altos Hills City Council approved a three-year contract at its May 21 meeting to continue with the City of Palo Alto's Animal Control Services. The current contract, which cost $35,353 for 1996-1997, expires June 30.

LAH approves new 5-year contract with sheriff's office

The Los Altos Hills City Council has approved a new five-year contract with Santa Clara County to continue using sheriff's services for the Town of Los Altos Hills. The current contract will expire June 30.

Controversy follows acceptance of De Martini house

Across from city hall a quaint, gingerbread cottage known as the De Martini house waits in the middle of a bare lot as contingencies and controversies cloud its future.

Revised condo plan (14 units) coming to 'gateway' corner

After two earlier appearances on the agenda, this time Los Altos City Council members approved a 14-unit condominium project for the north corner of Fremont and El Monte avenues.

Lempert bill promotes school fire safety

Following two school fires this year in San Mateo County, Assemblyman Ted Lempert has introduced legislation to require California's schools to be equipped with fire detection systems.

Leading a dog's life can be tough

A Side of Clyde

Letters to the Editor

I would like to alert the residents of our community about a scam that hit our neighborhood recently.

Hazardous duty in today's office

Other Voices

Community

Physician's key to a long life: set goals

Dr. Walter M. Bortz has a simple message: If you dare, you can live to be 100. Speaking with an outburst of energy, his message to the Rotary Club of Los Altos last Thursday would make Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking" look like a defeatist philosophy.

Two local artists worth seeking out

Artists John Barnes and R.J. Truman just finished a lengthy exhibition of their works at the Los Altos Hills Town Hall. Though we're too late in apprising you of that exhibition, which ended last Saturday, these local artists are worth watching for future displays.

National Trails Day walk on LAH pathways

This is a chance to view scenic areas along recently renovated pathways and join in the collective spirit of a national event.

25 years ago in the Town Crier

As reported in the June 7, 1972, issue of the Town Crier, St. Francis High School was named winner of the All-Sports Trophy for 1971-1972 in the West Catholic Athletic League. Despite having more than 300 fewer students than the majority of schools in the league, St. Francis won the trophy three times over a four-year period.

Russian-American fair at Jewish center

The Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center on Arastradero Road in Palo Alto will be turned into a Russian village when the center holds its fifth annual Russian-American Fair this coming Sunday. The fair will highlight Russian performers, ethnic foods and activities.

Library News

New paperbacks and a new reading list will be available to help teens who read five or more books and write one book review. Readers who complete this will earn a $5 gift certificate from Tower Books. The summer activity runs through Aug. 13.

Community Briefs

Organizers announce they are forming a North Los Altos Neighborhood Park Association to continue their efforts toward having "pleasing park areas in the north Los Altos area," according to resident Linda Kallal. The first meeting will be at 7 p.m. next Monday in the Hillview Community Center, Room 14, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.

Almanac

Today

History House Education Center campaign kick-off this Thursday

Supporters of the Los Altos History House Museum are kicking off a campaign this Thursday to build a $1.65 million "Education Center" on the museum grounds.

Clean-up day scheduled for Los Altos Hills

A clean-up day for the Town of Los Altos Hills has been scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

PTA awards handed out to local teachers

Gail Brunnings was the recipient of the Continuing Service Award. The Honorary Service Award went to the Youth Peer Court, and the Very Special Person Award was given to Gerri Carlton. The council also awarded 11 Ardis Egan Scholarships, honoring 11 teachers.

MVHS recognizes 10 merit finalists

The National Merit Scholarship Program has announced 10 Mountain View High School seniors have been recognized as merit finalists.

Los Altos School District announces 1997 summer classes

Town Crier Staff Report

Schools Briefs

The Santa Rita School sixth grade class of 1997 will present "Catch A Rising Star," the annual talent showcase of the graduating class, 7 p.m. Friday at Egan Intermediate School auditorium, 100 Portola Ave., Los Altos. Admission is $2.

Schools juggle facilities to handle class size reductions

It's been a challenge for school districts throughout the state. Here in Los Altos, the Los Altos, and Cupertino Union school districts have taken different approaches to implementing class size reduction.

Bullis students learn about civic involvement

Helping kids realize that they do have something to offer to the community is a main objective of the community partnership project begun this year at Bullis-Purissima School, according to school principal, George Manthey.

Mike Duong

This Los Altos High sophomore tennis player breezed through the opening rounds of the Central Coast Section singles tournament last week before losing in the semifinals. To gear up for the section championships, Duong won the 16-year-old division of the Junior Excellence Tournament two weeks ago in Sacramento.

Pinewood's Scott and Smith net doubles championship

Last year, Scotty Scott owned the singles portion of the Central Coast Section individual tournament by winning the championship. And this season, he and fellow Pinewood senior Lund Smith teamed up to net the doubles title last Thursday at Imperial Courts in Aptos.

Carlmont shuts down St. Francis in final

CCS softball playoffs

This Week in Sports

Track and Field

Sports Shorts

The Wender Weis Foundation for Children (WWFC) will present Children's Champions, a celebrity dinner and auction for the Saan Francisco Giants Community Fund and the American Sports Institute. Some athletes to be present at the event include Junior Bryant of the 49ers and Joe Smith of the Golden State Warriors. The event will be on Wednesday, June 18, at the Palo Alto Hills Country Club. WWFC was founded in 1994 to help prevent child abuse and neglect in the Bay Area. For ticket information, call (415) 321-4142 or fax (415) 321-6287.

Marble hits it big in high jump final

Town Crier Staff Writer

Smarts mixed with talent equal athletic success

While trophies were being handed out at a frenzied pace to the most valuable, inspirational and improved athletes last week at the Los Altos High gymnasium, awards for the most studious athletes of the bunch were even more abundant.

Leland stuns St. Francis in semifinals

Special to the Town Crier

MBA is best advanced degree for a high-tech field

RHI Consulting, in Cupertino, in a recent survey of chief information officers (CIO), concluded that computer science graduates will need to know how to read a balance sheet as well as a batch file if they want to climb the corporate ladder.

Silicon Valley corporate profiles portrayed on video

There is a new video documentary recently issued that describes Silicon Valley as a place for discovery and a place of innovation. Titled, "Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance," it's the story of the electronics revolution that started at Stanford, and continues to the present. Many of the trailblazing corporations named in the video also are included in the Town Crier Stock Index.

Free Rancho pancake breakfast for customer appreciation

There is no such thing as a free lunch. But a free breakfast is available at the 38th annual Rancho Roundup Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, at the Rancho Shopping Center. The breakfast is sponsored by the Rancho Merchant's Association for the Parent Teacher Association.

Seniors are getting ripped off by contractors again

In recognition of Older Californians Month, May 1997, the Contractors State License Board reminds California senior citizens to get a copy of "What Seniors Should Know Before Hiring a Contractor."

Real Estate Transactions

Cupertino

Cornish & Carey awards $1,000 scholarships to 26 high school seniors

Twenty six graduating seniors from local high schools have won $1,000 college scholarships from Cornish & Carey Residential Real Estate.

Local individual physicians join an IPA to offer better health care efficiency

The Santa Clara County Individual Practice Association (SCCIPA) recently announced the formation of a new senior management team and the startup of in-house administrative services designed to improve patient care and managed care efficiency.

3 easy-to-do tips for saving on gas costs for summer trips

Memorial Day marked the beginning of the summer driving season. The California Energy Commission offers a few simple steps to save on gasoline costs as the weather heats up.

Greenslip tests used cars, helps reduce the risk of those lemon blues

A report card on a car's condition

Former Los Altos minister Don Grant offers 10-step sermon on buying a new car

When I was in seminary, my theology professor would begin each class with "When last we met ..." Well, when last we met, I was writing a column called "Pastor's Perspective." This is my first column as a car salesman.

Obituaries

Agnes Paterson Greenberg (Greene) and Lydia Paterson Greenspoon passed away this spring. Both sisters were 89.

Noteworthies

Three Los Altos residents, Dennis Paull, Rene and Art Lynch, were delegates to the California Democratic Council Convention, held May 16-18 in Anaheim. They were part of a delegation representing the Los Altos-based Peninsula Democratic Coalition. Paull was elected coalition secretary while Art Lynch was re-elected as executive vice president for Northern California.

Service News

From its home port in Sasebo, Japan, Quijano and others spent time with children at a local orphanage.

Births

A daughter was born May 2 to Mountain View residents Elizabeth Fuentes and Manuel Arellano at Stanford University Medical Center.

Adopt-a-Home looking for sponsors in Los Altos

Project Match, the recipient of the City of Mountain View 1996 Mayor's Award in human services, provides affordable housing options for seniors.

Weddings

Karen Letts and David Wisser were married on May 3 at St. Nicholas Church in Los Altos. A reception followed at Holbrook-Palmer Park in Atherton.

Male spirituality: balancing strength with sensitivity

Masculine spirituality was the theme of a recent weekend retreat at the Jesuit Retreat House in Los Altos. The Rev. Philip Blake, the leader, kindly found me someone to interview on that topic. Surprisingly, the person he contacted turned out to be my fellow church member, John Lathrop.

Briefs

The Jesuit Retreat House of Los Altos presents "First Class Alcoholic Prospects: A Weekend with the 12 Steps," this Friday to Sunday. The retreat is for men and women and will be led by the Rev. Tom Weston. The Retreat House is located at 300 Manresa Way in Los Altos. For more information, call 948-4491.