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Published on 08/03/1998 All articles from this issue

Volunteers give Hillview center a needed face lift

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By Rita Jamison

Special to the Town Crier

Someone once said, "Color, when suitably applied to a woman or a wall, lifts a man's spirits."

On Aug. 1, 85 volunteers descended on the Los Altos Community Center on Hillview Avenue to lift spirits with a touch of paint.

Members of the Los Altos and Bayview Wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came prepared to perform a major face lift on the buildings in the back wings.

They painted walls, doors and door jambs, window casings and all the curbs in the parking lot. Smaller groups varnished the courtyard tables and benches, and raked up debris.

Teens applied coats of paint to the well-worn engine, caboose, and control tower at Hillview's adjoining Train Station Park. Adults weatherproofed the station and water tower with a coat of varnish.

Andrea Eyring-Smith cared for the children of volunteers at her home, and Cynthia Collier and Aftellia Berg prepared lunch for everyone.

The paint and equipment was supplied by the city of Los Altos.

"The 500 hours of work they contributed could not have been accomplished in such a short time by our own forces," said Ken Haukom, public works supervisor for the city. "It was the equivalent of 62 eight-hour shifts. We are very pleased."

Eric Collier, who organized and supervised the project, is a Stanford graduate in construction management.

Last year, also under the direction of Bishops Chris Hansen and Gary Schlegel, he organized similar projects at six area schools.

"We are always pleased to find ways to serve the choice community in which we live, "Hansen said.

'It's also our way of honoring the achievements of the Latter-day Saint pioneers who began arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in July of 1847."