The ebb and flow of Adobe Creek

The wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly, but 17 years? That’s how long it took for Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and county, state and federal agencies to bring to fruition a project addressing Adobe Creek erosion.

Pedestrian lights fail to perform on San Antonio

Many of the flashing crosswalk lights installed in February along San Antonio Road have already gone dark, leaving pedestrians without the warning lights they expect as they enter the busy intersections.

Defective battery packs cause the lights, inlaid in San Antonio’s pavement at five crosswalks, to fail, according to Jim Gustafson, Los Altos engineering services manager. He said that the contractor who installed the lights has taken responsibility for the malfunction and ordered replacements.

Longtime volunteer to preside as parade marshal

Few have volunteered as long or as extensively as Los Altos resident Lee Lynch. A former mayor and councilwoman in the 1970s, Lynch’s community service resume is quite long, including everything from the city’s historical commission to the library, Los Altos Rotary Club and Bus Barn Stage Company.

Lynch is scheduled to serve as Grand Marshal of the 61st annual Kiwanis Club Pet Parade, set for a 10 a.m. start time Saturday in downtown Los Altos.

Mary G. Ross: Local pioneer leaves distinguished legacy

Mary G. Ross, who held distinctions as the first woman Native American engineer and the first woman engineer at Lockheed Corp., died April 29 at her home in Los Altos after a battle with cancer. Mrs. Ross was 99, just a few months shy of her 100th birthday.

Mrs. Ross, of Cherokee heritage, was born in Oklahoma. Her great-great-grandfather, John Ross, was principal chief of the Cherokee Nation between 1828 and 1866.

Interest groups surveyed, civic center planners begin to draft

As the fact-gathering stage of the civic center revamp winds down, conceptual drafting is set to begin on the plan to renovate much of Los Altos’ 18-acre municipal core.

The Master Plan Advisory Committee wrapped up its needs assessment this month with presentations from the Los Altos libraries, sports groups, pool boosters and Bus Barn Theater. The needs assessment compiled the needs and desires of a broad range of community interest groups, on which the consultants can call as they determine what to include in draft designs for the civic space.

LAH ends general plan revision

After two and a half years of volunteer work from six town residents, the Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously approved the land use and pathways element – the final phase – of the general plan last week.

The plan consisted of three project phases. The council adopted the introduction, conservation, open space and recreation elements in April 2007, followed by the noise and safety elements in November.

Day-worker site hinges on permit, parking details

With purchase of a building at 117 Escuela Ave. near closing, the planned Day Worker Center site in Mountain View is closer to reality but remains dependent on the city of Mountain View for a conditional use permit.

Nadine Levin, Mountain View assistant city manager, said the city is negotiating with the center about leasing city land adjacent to the site that could fulfill parking requirements. She listed parking and traffic issues as some of the key elements that require satisfaction for a use permit.

Weekend duck rescue

Los Altos resident Robert Malm and his wife Linda spotted a duck family in distress on Los Altos Avenue May 10 and turned out the neighborhood to help. They had observed a mother duck and eight ducklings cross the street in single file, but when they returned – armed with a camera – only six ducklings were seen on the side of the street. Two of the babies had plunged into a streetside storm drain.

“The mother became frantic and moved back and forth over the drain, quacking loudly,” Malm reported. “Unfortunately, more ducklings fell down the drain with each passage.”

LA residents hold bake sale for Myanmar survivors

Los Altos residents raised nearly $2,000 at a bake sale Saturday in front of the downtown Starbucks. The sale will benefit survivors of last week’s devastating cyclone in Myanmar.

Katie Jacobs Stanton organized the sale with resident Min Min, who was born in the former Burma. The baked goods, donated entirely by local residents, ranged from typical bake sale fare like cookies and cake to baklava and topfenstrudel.

Police Blotter

Narcotics possession

May 11, 12:47 a.m., 2300 block of Homestead Road: Officer Abe Velasco arrested a young male pedestrian and booked him into county jail on a charge of possession of narcotics with intent to sell. The young man, a resident of Santa Cruz County, carried marijuana and ecstasy and reported that he was looking for a “rave” in the area that had been posted on MySpace, Detective Paul Epley said.

Editorial

Recent news beyond Los Altos has been less than sunny, let’s face it: The national economy remains shaky, gas is officially more than $4 a gallon, the death toll from last week’s cyclone disaster in Myanmar could exceed 100,000 and another disaster close behind it – the 7.8 earthquake that hit China on Monday, killing nearly 9,000 people.

All the more reason to count our blessings on the local scene. Certainly, the high quality of life in Los Altos is well documented, but here’s another thing to consider: Numerous plans and projects under way bid to make this community even better.

Letters to the Editor

Charter school should bend

As an advocate of the Bullis Charter School because it promotes competition within the Los Altos School District, why doesn’t the charter school board change the school’s name to “Los Altos Charter School” and return the Bullis name to the former Bullis-Purissima School, scheduled to reopen for the 2008-2009 school year?

The Living Experiment

As far as vices go, mine are fairly benign. I relish a nightly date with a hefty scoop of my beloved Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream, and I admit to more than an occasional game of Zuma on the computer. These aren’t too damaging in the scheme of things – a calorie gained here, a brain cell lost there. Reality TV, though, now there’s a vice. One little nibble and you’re sucked in for life, or at least until the end of sweeps in May.

I figure reality TV is all about immersing oneself in someone else’s reality while ignoring your own. Last night my reality should have included cleaning the kitchen after dinner, but instead I plopped on the couch, watched Mario get eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars,” and woke up this morning to a sink full of dirty dishes.

Five Troop 33 Scouts earn Eagle honors

Colin DeMartini, Spencer Fletcher, Christopher Lonergan, Alberto Martin and Nicholas Saviano earned Eagle Scout Awards in a Court of Honor ceremony April 20 at Los Altos United Methodist Church.

All five recipients are members of Troop 33, which has met at the church since 1951.

Fairfax, Farmer earn Eagle Scout rank

Los Altos Boy Scout Troop 37 will recognize Christopher Fairfax and Alexander Farmer at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor 7:30 Friday at the Los Altos Youth Center.

Fairfax has been active in Scouting for 12 years. For his Eagle service project, Fairfax designed and led his fellow Scouts in constructing a three-stage compost bin for Oak School.

From real to surreal – divergent creations to merge in park for Rotary fine art show

For the past 15 years, Los Altos Hills resident Terenia Offenbacker has attended the Los Altos Rotary Club’s Fine Art in the Park, strolling by artists’ booths and purchasing paintings to brighten her home’s décor. But this year, she’s changing the tradition.

Offenbacker will sit the strolling out as she trades places with the vendors she used to visit and becomes one herself – Offenbacker’s own paintings will be on exhibit at the Rotary’s 33rd annual arts’ event in Lincoln Park Saturday and Sunday.

Book review - ‘Grassroots Philanthropy’: A practical guide cuts through red tape in charitable giving

Bill Somerville seems to thrive on writing checks: checks to individuals who step up to help someone in need; checks to organizations he has seen in action whose leaders are trustworthy – and visionary; and checks to seed a startup idea that, while perhaps risky, is fueled with passion to deal with hunger, literacy, homelessness or the arts.

Los Altos Relay For Life: Study offers new opportunity to fight cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.4 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2008. Californians will account for 156,530 of those cases.

In an effort to eliminate cancer as a major health concern for future generations, the American Cancer Society’s Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research plans to recruit 500,000 adults across the United States at select Relay For Life rallies, including the Los Altos event, for a new research study called Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3).

Challenge breakfast celebrates volunteer energy of community cop Ron Cooper

When local leaders gathered for the annual Challenge Team breakfast May 8, they honored Mountain View Police Officer Ron Cooper as the year’s “Champion for Youth” for his varied – and expanding – programs to engage children in the community in positive projects with the city’s police department.

Mountain View Police Chief Scott Vermeer described Cooper’s proposal that the department initiate Cops Who Care, a Christmas gift drive, and the subsequent success of the program. The first year, Cooper and his family, with help from colleagues, gathered 500 gifts. Since then, the program has ballooned into an all-day holiday party, last year hosting 1,700 children and disbursing 2,200 gifts.

Expert Field offers climate-change solutions during lecture at Los Altos Library

Climate-change expert Chris Field, Stanford University biology professor and founder of the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology, said that scientific “fingerprints” suggest a human cause for climate change over the past 50 years.

Field, a Los Altos resident, spoke on “Science and Solutions for Global Warming” April 23 before a crowd of 75 at the Los Altos main library. The event was co-sponsored by Cool Los Altos, the League of Women Voters and the Los Altos Library.

Community Briefs

Panel, tour highlight Affordable Housing Week

“Is Affordable Housing Available in Mountain View?” is the subject of a panel discussion 2-5 p.m. Thursday at the Community Services Agency, 204 Stierlin Road, Mountain View. The event, in recognition of Affordable Housing Week in Silicon Valley, will feature a tour of San Antonio Place. Registration is required. To register, contact Nadia Ilieva of CSA at 968-0836, ext.111, or nilieva@csacares.org.

Two milestones for Friends of Library: 50 years and $2 million in donations

Once a week, in an overcrowded room in Hillview Community Center, a group of volunteers sorts, prices, boxes and stacks used books and other media donated for the benefit of the two Los Altos libraries: the main library at 13 S. San Antonio Road and the Woodland Branch at 1975 Grant Road.

The volunteers are active members of the organization incorporated as the Friends of the Library of Los Altos and Community Inc., or familiarly referred to as the Friends of the Library.

Los Altos takes home consolation prize

The Los Altos High baseball team did just enough on offense to win both games against Homestead last week and claim the consolation championship of the SCVAL De Anza Division tournament.

But how far will three runs a game get the Eagles in this week’s Central Coast Section Division II playoffs, even with their formidable pitching staff?

Hundreds gather at Los Altos High for ceremony to dedicate track to Long

More than 250 people attended a ceremony April 27 to dedicate the Los Altos High track to the school’s former track and field coach, Leo Long.

Long coached the team for 18 years (1958-1963 and 1970-1981). During his tenure, Los Altos became the first Central Coast Section team to win a state championship (1970), claimed 18 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League titles and posted a 128-3 dual-meet record.

Sports on the Side

Run for a cause

Los Altos resident Michael Kanning is preparing to participate in the third Ultra For A Cure run. The 16-year-old is striving to break the 100-mile junior national record (19 hours, 13.12 minutes) June 7 in San Diego and add to the nearly $5,000 he’s raised for cancer research. Kanning said he was inspired by a good friend who has dealt with cancer most of his life. To sponsor Kanning and make a donation, visit http://ultraforacure.blogspot.com and follow the link to the American Cancer Society.

Locals on track for CCS meet

It’s on to the town of garlic and outlet stores for several local track and field athletes.

Mountain View High has qualified 15 competitors for the Central Coast Section semifinals, while Los Altos High is sending nine team members to Saturday’s meet in Gilroy.

Spartans, Lancers make CCS golf final; Mtn. View softball team in DII playoffs

Mountain View and St. Francis highs qualified for the Central Coast Section boys golf championships with strong showings at the regionals last week in Carmel.

The Spartans finished second (388) and the Lancers fourth (395) at the first of two regional tournaments held at Rancho Cañada.

Making a difference

When Pinewood School graduate Stacie Roshon entered Occidental College in 2003, she joined a women’s basketball program coming off its 12th consecutive losing season.

The Tigers were perennial cellar-dwellers in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – and in desperate need of someone to bring them back to respectability.

Family values

Some very special mother-daughter bonding takes place year-round for Beth Neylan of Los Altos and her daughter, Claire – not just on Mother’s Day.

They belong to the Stanford Hills Chapter of the National Charity League, a non-profit organization of mothers and daughters who serve the community. Within the chapter, there are six groups of 28 girls, divided by grade level from seventh to 12th.

Filmmaker documents family’s caregiving journey

Caring.com, founded in Los Altos, is a Web site dedicated to helping adult children take care of their aging parents. The mission of the site, whose motto is “Helping You Help Your Parents,” is to offer caregivers information and other resources, easy-to-use tools and personal support. Following is a new column profiling the ins and outs of caregiving.

In “The Sandwich Generation” and “Living With Herbie,” filmmaker Julie Winokur and photojournalist Ed Kashi turned their lenses on themselves, documenting their family’s day-to-day struggle to care for Winokur’s father, Herbie, through his dementia.

Alzheimer’s Association opens new facility

The Alzheimer’s Association has scheduled an open house 4-6 p.m. May 22 to mark the opening of the Northern California Chapter Headquarters at 1060 La Avenida St. in Mountain View.

The open house will feature information and resources on research, programs, advocacy, volunteer opportunities and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk.

Proceed with caution before hiring an in-home caregiver

Recent studies estimate that adults over 50 and their families in the United States employ approximately 24 million caregivers. In an attempt to save time and money, families hire underground caregivers – those not affiliated with a company or organization that can provide professional management and training.

Many states have or are passing laws to protect seniors from caregiver abuse or neglect.

El Camino YMCA offers program for active seniors

The Active Older Adult Program has scheduled “50+ Active Older Adult Day 2008” for seniors 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 29 at the El Camino YMCA at 2400 Grant Road, Mountain View.

Learning the ‘vitamin alphabet’ has lasting effects

After the age of 50, seniors must learn a new alphabet. Whether it’s for purposes of antiaging, balancing one’s diet or in pursuit of overall better health, deciphering and properly ingesting the “vitamin alphabet” can be quite overwhelming for some.

Today’s fast-paced lifestyles often do not allow time to eat sensibly. Compounded by modern-day farming techniques and overprocessed foods, it is difficult to get complete nourishment solely from the diet. Taking a vitamin regimen is beneficial, helping to replace depleted nutrients required for good long-term health.

Food strategies offer arthritis relief

Over the past two decades, an enormous amount of information has addressed how diet impacts arthritis, in both positive and negative ways. While fasting and eliminating whole food groups have proven to be ineffective strategies, scientifically sound dietary changes help those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Following is a food guide to improve arthritis symptoms and overall health.

Senior New Ways kit guides facilitators with DVD, activities

Los Altos-based Senior New Ways’ “Coming Fully Alive as You Age” DVD is part of a kit designed for those interested in conducting a class for seniors.

Topics include: Finding Meaning in Life; Being Fully Alive: Mind, Body and Spirit; Aging as a Spiritual Journey; and the Uplifting Power of Humor.

MARY MARGARET SIMON CLARK

Mary Margaret and Lyman were active members of the Los Altos Golf and Country Club from the mid-1950’s, and she enjoyed bridge and meals at the LAGCC with friends and family until a week before her death. Organized and detail-oriented, she served for a number of years on the board and as president of both the Northern California Women’s Golf Association and the LAGCC 18-Hole Group. She volunteered for the Girl Scouts, area hospitals, Sensory Access Foundation and the English in Action Program at Stanford University. Together with Lyman, Mary Margaret loved dancing, travel (especially to Hawaii and Tahoe), and flowers from Lyman’s colorful garden.

One of her greatest achievements, according to family lore, was winning the LAGCC women’s club handicap championship about 12 years ago, when she was 80 years old- with teenage caddies cheering her on. Known to her granddaughters and great-grandchildren as “Muga”(west coast) and “Nana” (east coast), she served as a role model because of her honesty, positive attitude, and fairness, as well as her continuing zest for life despite age limitations. She also exemplified for all who knew her what it means to be a good friend. Only four days before her death, she demonstrated her buoyant spirit celebrating her 92nd birthday with her loving and boisterous, neighbors nicknamed the “Shirley Hill Gang.” She loved and she was loved -perhaps the most beautiful gift of living.

MARY LOU (PIPER) TRUDELL

Mary Lou (Piper) Trudell, 84, of Los Altos, CA, died May 2, 2008 at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. Born in Buffalo NY, she has lived in Los Altos for since 2002, and prior to that for 47 years in West Springfield, MA. She worked at the West Springfield Public Library, mainly in reference, for 21 years, where her special interest was in developing the local history collection. She was a member of the Mittineague Congregational Church and the Ramapogue Women’s Club, serving on the Executive Board for some years. She attended Bucknell University, earned a BS at University of Buffalo, and did graduate work at U.B. and at Westfield State College.

She leaves her husband of 61 years, Marvin Trudell; a son, David Trudell of Minnetonka Beach, MN; a daughter Libby Trudell-Oliver of Los Altos, CA and four grandchildren: Scott, Michael, and Ashley Trudell, and Nicholas Oliver.

BARBARA JEAN ALEXANDER (KREKLAU)

Barbara Jean Alexander (Kreklau) - passed away February 10, 2008, a month after being diagnosed with cancer. She is survived by two children, Rhonda Kreklau and Eugenia Fleuter, and daughter-in-law Heidi Kreklau. Her four grandchildren: Aaron, Amanda, Robert and Daniel, will remember her as “sticker Grandma”, for the way she decorated their gifts.

Barbara Jean was born April 14, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in California. She worked many years in The United States Postal Service, first in Los Altos, then in the Gold Country (Pine Grove), where she retired from service in 1992.

CLARENCE (BABE) ARTHUR ANDREWS JR

Clarence (Babe) Arthur Andrews, Jr died peacefully on April 30 at the age of 79. Mr Andrews was born in San Francisco and grew up in San Mateo and was a long time resident of Sunnyvale and Clear Lake. He received a BSEE from University of California, Berkeley and spent the majority of his career at Lockheed. During his career he traveled extensively and contributed to the security of our nation. Mr. Andrews was a long time amateur radio enthusiast and private pilot. He is survived by his wife Bertha Gilbert Andrews; daughters Carole Costa (John) and Cathy Andrews (Stuart); and grandchildren John Jr. and Gina.

Services have been held. Donations can be made in Mr. Andrews name to the Diabetes Society of Santa Clara Valley 1165 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 300, San Jose, CA 95125.

Datebook

Datebook items are run on a space-available basis for entertainment, non-profit events, low-cost classes and groups of wide interest in our circulation area. The deadline is noon Tuesday for the next week’s paper. Notices must be typed and include a contact name and phone number. Items may be submitted via e-mail (peteb@latc.com); fax (948-6647); or post (138 Main St., Los Altos, CA 94022).

THEATER

A peek into downtown’s changing windows

Who’s coming, who’s going, who’s gone and what’s going on? Get the lowdown on the downtown – we’re keeping your nose in business.

Recession fears unwarranted

By Rick Glaze

Donating wheels of fortune

The wheels of socioeconomic justice may not spin too rapidly in developing countries throughout the world, but through awareness and volunteer efforts, the miles of inequality are becoming the roads less traveled.

Paving the way for those less fortunate is One Dollar For Life, a non-profit organization launched last year by students at Los Altos and Mountain View high schools and adopted by other area schools.

Family & Children Services hosts annual Circle of Support Breakfast

More than 450 staff, donors and volunteers gathered Thursday for Family & Children Services’ fifth annual Circle of Support Breakfast to honor Susan Ford Dorsey, a community leader and philanthropist dedicated to environmental preservation and family services.

Dorsey is president of the Menlo Park-based Sand Hill Foundation, established in 1995 with her late husband, Tom Ford, which has helped fund many of the Family & Children Services programs since its inception.