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Published on 12/29/1999 All articles from this issue

Millennium celebration meets target

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Town Crier Staff Report

As the hours tick closer to the year 2000, organizers of the Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Millennium Celebration report the evening is a sell- out.

A total of 1,000 "Countdown to Midnight" tickets had been sold for the Friday event to be held on the grounds of the Hillview Community Center and the 400-ticket goal for the black-tie dinner guests is 98 percent sold, organizers said. Guests had choices between $75 tickets for after-dinner activities beginning at 10:30 p.m., or $450 for the black-tie dinner.

In addition, more than 100 Youth Arcade tickets have been sold.

The evening includes two live bands and a "surprise extravaganza" at midnight, all to be presented in a climate-controlled, 40-foot high tent.

The tent size determines the capacity, said Paul Nyberg, who initiated the planning for the event two years ago.

"In November we had to make a final commitment to Stuart Rentals for the facilities and the 1000/400/100 numbers were our targets which have now been largely met," he said.

According to Dick Hasenpflug, treasurer of the event, enough funds from ticket sales, sponsors and underwriters have made it possible to pay all the bills and still provide a modest contribution for the new Education Center at History House in Los Altos.

"Calculating the tax deductions allowed to each ticket buyer for a fundraising event like this is a little complicated," he said. "It really has nothing to do with the costs of the event itself. Instead, it is the difference between the ticket price of our event and the price for an equivalent evening at a commercial establishment.

"Because of the unusual costs of putting on our event, we are extremely grateful to our underwriters, without whose support this event would not have been possible."

Event sponsors are expecting a clear night on New Year's Eve, but are prepared for the worst.

The tent is wind- and-weather-proof, on a wooden platform and heated by forced air.

Best of all, organizers said, it is Y2K proof since all power is provided by generators.