According to the Oct. 3, 1973, issue of the Town Crier, the Los Altos City Council gave approval to landscaping a new center island on El Monte Avenue between Cuesta Drive and Shirlynn Court. Plans called for nine olive trees, valued at approximately $3,500, nine flowering plum trees and 13 Canary Island pine trees.
Everyone knew in 1973 that wearing brand new jeans was gauche. Three youthful members of the Los Altos Hills Walton family - Courtney, 14, Allison, 12 and Sterling, 11 - launched a business enterprise, offering a guarantee of doing a thorough break-in job.
For the modest fee of $1 a week per pair of jeans, the young entrepreneurs guaranteed a fashionable break-in job. The jeans were subjected to typical rural treatment as the young occupants rolled down hills, climbed trees, fell off horses and shoveled manure.
The marching band of Los Altos High School was growing in both size and esteem in 1973. The 120-piece band included a new eight-girl flag team, two majorettes, nine letter girls, a 40-girl drill team and three drum majors.
Director Charles Taber said the band had been invited to play at 49ers football games and to perform again at Candlestick Park. To fulfill their expectations, band members had practiced for four hours a day for two weeks before school started.
50 years ago in the Los Altos News
As reported in the Sept. 30, 1948, issue of the Los Altos News, "It just grew," said the F.J. Arnoulds of Country Club Drive about their 14-foot high corn stalks, bearing 20-inch long ears that were sweet and juicy.
The Arnoulds brought the corn seeds back from a trip to Idaho and decided to plant some "just for fun" after gophers had destroyed a row of prize dahlias. Their successful growing techniques could also be seen in the 12-inch dahlias the gophers didn't get and the 17-foot high canna lilies.
The California State Department of Finance approved granting $294,984.19 to the local school district, insuring completion of a master plan that was under way for three new school buildings. All were kindergarten-primary units. Weber and Bruce, Los Altos contractors, were awarded the initial contract for construction of Hillview at a cost of $119,763.
A newly formed local Quota Club was introduced to Los Altos at a charter dinner party on Oct. 1, 1948. About 23 of the local business and professional women made up the club. Service to the community was one of its main objectives.
- Ellen Shaw of the Los Altos History House Association