Ruling the diamond

If you think you face a lot of scrutiny at your job, imagine what Ted Barrett goes through. His every move is analyzed not only by his boss and coworkers, but also by tens of thousands of screaming observers.

It’s all part of the life of a Major League Baseball umpire.

Movie-night demographic spurs safety concerns

While many Los Altos families pitch folding chairs and tote picnic baskets to downtown movie nights, participation from the city’s middle-school set has drawn ire from the Los Altos Village Association, the event’s sponsor.

Tweens have taken to hanging out on the edges of the screenings – raising concerns about littering, noise and safety – and the association is questioning whether the throng might bring an end to the free movie nights.

Alleged arsonist charged with poisoning, attempted murder

The woman who allegedly set fire to her family’s house on the 1700 block of Hawkins Drive in Los Altos appeared in court last week to face eight charges, including attempted murder, arson, burglary and attempted poisoning.

Jann Gilkey, 52, was arrested July 5 after allegedly using gasoline or a similar fuel to set the family’s garage on fire.

Parking plans hinge on location

As members of the Los Altos Downtown Zoning Committee evaluate design concepts for a parking structure, they remain divided on its location.

LAH vets mayoral change

After Los Altos Hills Mayor Craig Jones led his final Pledge of Allegiance at the start of last week’s city council meeting, newly appointed Mayor Jean Mordo signaled his intention to realign the town’s mayoral appointment process with the November election cycle.

Traditionally, Los Altos Hills mayors, appointed based on seniority, serve 12-month terms that begin in July. A change in the month of mayoral appointment would be small in effect compared, for instance, to the Los Altos City Council’s recent decision to change the date of its city council elections. However, it would mean a shorter period at the helm of the council for the next two mayors.

Police Briefs

Saratoga shooting draws Los Altos SWAT team

Los Altos Police Chief Tuck Younis departed from his corner office last week, pounding the streets as a watch commander after many of his officers responded to an armed incident with alleged marijuana growers in the canyons above Saratoga July 10.

Editorial

When members of the Los Altos Village Association first created the summer movie nights, they anticipated an event that would attract more residents downtown as a way to promote business.

What they didn’t anticipate was an influx of middle schoolers, or that parents would use the weekly Friday night affair as an opportunity to drop off their children and have someone else (in this case, the Village Association) effectively watch over them.

Letters to the Editor

Peddling bike safety without a helmet

The photo accompanying the article in the July 2 Town Crier about Los Altos Hills pathways features City Councilman Breene Kerr on his bicycle – but without a helmet.

Reflections

The Fourth of July came and went at our house with only a ripple. I have to admit to a surge of patriotism when the flags waved, the fireworks burst and the orchestra played Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. It’s also fun to watch the crowds on television straining for their moments of glory as the cameras catch them in action.

The highways were pretty clear over the entire holiday weekend, even San Antonio Road, which generally experiences flows of traffic going both ways and challenges us to cross safely in our cars. For the occasional pedestrian there are the new roadway lights, but we drivers feel neglected by the city.

Wedding: Lindsay Buhles and Anthony Bartsh

Lindsay Buhles and Anthony Bartsh were married Oct. 27. The ceremony and reception were held at Nestldown in Los Gatos.

The bride is the daughter of Patricia Buhles of Los Altos and William Buhles of Davis. She graduated from St. Francis High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in music from UC San Diego. She is employed as a media relations manager for the National Parks Conservation Association.

Engagement: Stephanie Ellis and Anthony Hustler

Stephanie Monique Ellis and Anthony Maxwell Hustler announced their engagement to be married Oct. 18 in North Lake Tahoe.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Bud L. Ellis of Incline Village, Nev. She graduated from Redwood High School and National University. She teaches third grade at the Carden Conservatory in Huntington Beach.

Wedding: Hilary Joy and Joshua Harmssen

Hilary Ann Joy and Joshua Aaron Harmssen were married Oct. 27 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. The bride is the daughter of Ken and Judy Joy of Los Altos. She graduated from Los Altos High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California. She is principal of her own policy research and consulting firm. The groom is the son of Robert and Valerie Harmssen of San Jose. He graduated from Archibishop Mitty High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State University, Monterey Bay. He is a quality assurance engineer at VMware Inc.

The couple honeymooned in Costa Rica and live in Menlo Park.

Lost falcon sparks search among birders

If you’re in an area with tall trees or near a flock of birds feeding on seed, be on the lookout for Sparky, a 9-inch, quarter-pound American Kestrel. The urgent call to Bay Area birders and local residents comes in the aftermath of Sparky’s unintended escape from his home in south Los Altos June 30.

Sparky is blind in his right eye, which causes problems with depth perception and hunting, according to his caregiver, Karen Hoyt.

Local Buddhist Temple hosts Obon Festival and Bazaar

The Mountain View Buddhist Temple has scheduled the annual Obon Festival and Bazaar 4-10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Temple, 575 North Shoreline Blvd., across from the Safeway in the Bailey Park Shopping Center.

The midsummer Buddhist holiday celebrates the sights, sounds and tastes of the Japanese experience. The festival features Japanese and Western food, cultural exhibits and books, flower-shop and home-crafts booths, children’s and adult games and Temple cookbooks.

Locals sustain injuries in city parking lot

Instructor Barbara Klee is known to bring the students in her Stretch & Flex classes at the Hillview Community Center to their knees with floor exercises. But on April 17, Klee and friend Marjorie Lins were apparently brought to their knees – by a hole outside the Los Altos center.

It was a bitter déjà vu for Klee, who more than five years earlier recalled seeing workers dig the hole in the center’s parking lot for access to a service box. Klee said the workers did not cover the 20.5-by-16-inch wide, 2-inch deep crater.

History Museum hosts holiday exchange

The Los Altos History Museum has scheduled its first seasonal Treasure Market sale 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday on the museum patio, 51 S. San Antonio Road.

Donations can be dropped off at the Los Altos History Museum 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today. Possible donations include ornaments, decorations, books, dishes and anything holiday-oriented. No clothing will be accepted.

Community Briefs

‘Rock Band’ battle hits LA main library

The Los Altos main library has scheduled a tournament featuring the rhythm video game “Rock Band” for PlayStation 2 3 p.m. Friday.

Vintage Affaire wine auction aids blind and visually impaired

The 26th annual Vintage Affaire wine auction, benefiting the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, is scheduled Saturday in the gardens of a private estate in Los Altos Hills.

Vintage Affaire is one of the largest wine auctions in California. Over the past 25 years, the event has raised more than $5.5 million for the Palo Alto-based center. Funds support Vista Center’s client services, including the low-vision clinic and rehabilitation services such as counseling, orientation and mobility training, living skills instruction and computer training.

Local educators start new school in Mtn. View

Two Los Altos residents and longtime educators have started a new elementary school in Mountain View, scheduled to open its doors in the fall.

Heritage Academy, founded by Marilyn Davidson and Jessica Nies, will serve third- through sixth-graders to provide the “highest quality of Christian, classical education in an environment that emphasizes the joy of learning,” Davidson said.

Noteworthies

Maria Emilia De Oliveira Montez Rath of Mountain View earned a doctorate in biostatistics from Boston University in May.

College prep leaders foster educational focus

Los Altos resident Sumathi Srinivasan believes in leading by example. But as a mother of two, she is used to facing resistance from her children. More importantly, she thinks their educational motivation should begin in the classroom.

A student at Homestead High School, her daughter, Aria, has shown interest in studying business. But it wasn’t until Srinivasan shared information from an Andover College Prep seminar that Aria took the initiative in pursuing for a possible career path, including reading business articles from The Wall Street Journal.

Camp Galileo stationed at Loyola

Camp Galileo began its summer full-day camp activities for students June 23. The camp has limited spaces available for students entering kindergarten.

The day-camp program offers art, science and outdoor activities for children entering kindergarten through fifth grade.

Oaks put the broom to Bombers

The Palo Alto Oaks’ pitchers picked the right time to go on vacation.

Even with two starters and a reliever out of town, the Oaks had enough pitching – and more than enough hitting – to sweep Sunday’s doubleheader against the last-place Seaside Bombers. The local semipro baseball team won 11-1 and 12-4 at Baylands Park.

Los Altos golfer The rallies from 5-stroke deficit to win TJ Jr.

Playing a golf tournament on your home course has its advantages – and its challenges, as Tessa The discovered.

“At first, for me, playing Castlewood didn’t feel like a tournament. The first day, it was like ‘Oh, I’m playing Castlewood,’” the Los Altos resident said. “The second day, it was like ‘I’m in a tournament and I should focus,’ and I started playing better.”

Grieb leads Cats back to ArenaBowl

The repeat is within reach.

The San Jose SaberCats are returning to the ArenaBowl after beating the Grand Rapids Rampage Saturday behind eight touchdown passes from quarterback Mark Grieb, a Mountain View resident.

Sports on the Side

O’Brien coming back

Santa Clara University baseball coach Mark O’Brien, a St. Francis High graduate, last week agreed to a multiyear contract to remain at the school. “Santa Clara is a special place to be and it is wonderful to know my family and I will share many more great memories here,” O’Brien said. “I truly believe there are many great years ahead of us, and the coaching staff and I look forward to the challenge of becoming a national contender year in and year out.” The Broncos are coming off their most successful season in 11 years, compiling a 33-21 record that included wins over Stanford and eventual national champ Fresno State.

Record turnout for this year’s Dream Mile

A record number of people participated in this year’s Dream Mile 5K and 10K Run and Carnival at Shoreline Park in Mountain View.

Organized by Bay Area Vibha, the 10th annual event – a fundraiser for underprivileged children in India and in the local community – took place June 29.

Post 558 Bears focusing on development – not wins

Forget the record. Yes, the Los Altos American Legion Post 558 Bears haven’t won many games, but that isn’t what this baseball team is about.

“The wins and losses – that’s been tough,” said head coach Ben Lewis, whose Bears had just two victories five weeks into the summer season. “But it’s not about wins and losses – it’s about giving the kids a chance to play, get better and try new positions.”

Beat the heat

Be cool, folks. It’s summer and the living is easy – except when temperatures skyrocket as they have recently. Then it’s very important to know how to beat the heat.

Recognizing heat exhaustion

During the dog days of summer, it’s important to be aware of symptoms and treatment of heat exhaustion, a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are seniors, those with high blood pressure and people working or exercising in a hot environment.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion include:

Available cool-down facilities

The National Weather Service issued a heat warning last week in response to dangerously hot temperatures in the area. The warning specifically targeted the elderly and the infirm, who are usually more sensitive to heat and thus at greater risk.

Sharing is Caring.com

When Los Altos resident Andy Cohen’s mother developed lung cancer in 2006, he turned to the Internet to help manage her illness long distance.

Individual Web sites exist for topics such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer or Medicare, but Cohen found there was no “one-stop shop” that had all the answers the Chicago native wanted.

Raw fish raises health concerns for older adults’ immune systems

Q: Is it true that elderly people should not eat sashimi or sushi?

Local seniors’ group meets monthly

The Say Hi Seniors Support Group of the San Antonio Hills Homeowner’s Association meets monthly at the Los Altos branch of First Republic Bank, 400 S. San Antonio Road.

Meeting time is 4 p.m. the third Monday of the month in the bank’s conference room.

Author claims parents want comfort, not management, from their children

With his expertise in helping seniors navigate their final years, one might think David Solie would have sailed through his years of caregiving for his mother, Carol, without any regrets.

However, Solie, a geriatric psychologist and author of “How to Say It to Seniors: Closing the Communication Gap with Our Elders” (Prentice Hall Press, 2004), admitted that at times he went overboard trying to “manage” his mother’s care.

It takes proactive steps to beat debilitating arthritis as you age

If you are misdiagnosing your old, rusty joints as a byproduct of aging, your quality of life through the golden years could be greatly compromised by a disease called osteoarthritis.

Walking can have many long-term benefits

Osteoarthritis is a constant challenge for the aging body, but exercise – like walking – promotes natural lubrication of the joints.

Green savings

This is the second of three articles about solar energy. The third article will be published Aug. 20.

‘Cool’ invites community to chart greener path

Cool Los Altos, a grassroots, nonpartisan organization of local residents and business owners, is focused on educating, engaging and mobilizing citizens to create local climate solutions, modify behavior and influence city policy for the benefit of a healthier planet and community.

The group, formed in October 2007, met with its first success last January – placing climate protection and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on the Los Altos City Council agenda – after demonstrating community support with 700 signatures on a petition.

Green building ordinances sweeping nation

For those in the dark or just green about green, the Green Guy answers your questions.

Q: Is green building mandated by local governments?

LAYT ‘Duck’ has pluck

The fairy-tale musical “Lucky Duck” combines a farmyard parable with pop culture window-dressing, and Los Altos Youth Theatre’s teen cast rises to the occasion with its good-humored, gently ribald rendition of the ugly duckling story.

The family-friendly show, directed by Jillian Toby, includes enough sly jokes to save the story from cloying cuteness, including a visit to a thinly veiled cathouse (when the country duck hits the big city, to her peril).

‘Doubt’ looms at TheatreWorks; play opens Friday

TheatreWorks’ production of “Doubt,” winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for best play, is scheduled to begin its run today at Lucie Stern Theatre.

Previews are scheduled 8 p.m. today through Friday and the play opens at the same time Saturday. The theater is at 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

Local business offers a grab-and-go solution for emergencies

The dry conditions in Los Altos Hills and surrounding areas this year have severely elevated the threat of wildfires and raised residents’ concerns about emergency preparedness and even potential evacuation.

Los Altos resident Sherie Dodsworth, CEO and founder of Securita Inc., created a product to provide document security for worst-case scenarios in natural disasters.

Gay marriage and the recent court decision: One pastor’s point of view

This is the first in a two-part series.

In response to the recent California Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage, I offer the following in the hope of encouraging discussion on an important topic of the day. These thoughts do not reflect the policy of Los Altos United Methodist Church or the United Methodist denomination, only my point of view. And they are not the only positions that can be held by faithful people.

Covenant Church hosts Music Camp for Kids

Foothill Covenant Church has scheduled a mini-Music Camp for Kids, 6-11, 9 a.m. to noon July 30-Aug. 2 with a final concert and barbecue 11:30 a.m. Aug. 2.

During the three music-filled mornings, campers will participate in choral singing, music, crafts and games, and learn to play the handbells. Cost is $30 per child or $50 per family. Snacks will be provided. Foothill Covenant Church is located at 1555 Oak Ave. in Los Altos. To register or for more information, call 967-7447.

DAVE SHEPARD

Dave Shepard succumbed to a long illness on June 28. He will be profoundly missed by his sons Tyler and Brett, his parents Mary and Bob, his brothers Steve and Mike, his love Jacqueline Whitesides and his extended family, friends, and many co-workers.

Dave completed Mountain View (Awalt) High, Cuesta College and owned German Parts and Restoration in San Luis Obispo for 23 years. He enjoyed fast cars, racing, ice hockey, and mostly playing with his sons.

CARROLL FOREST (BILL) CLARK

Carroll Forest (Bill) Clark died July 5, 2008 of complications from a stroke. Bill was born in Chittenden, Vermont of Fred and Florence Clark. He graduated from Rutland High School in 1939 and from Northwestern University in 1943 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. While in college, he worked for DuPont Chemicals. During World War II, as a Lieutenant JG in the United States Navy, he spent three years patrolling the English Channel and North Sea.

He married Lois Richardson in 1946, remaining married for 61 years. After leaving the Navy, he worked as a Chemist for Monsanto Corporation in Springfield, MA. After moving to California he worked at Fuller Paint in South San Francisco. He then worked for Stanford Research Institute in Palo Alto, CA from 1956 through 1980, 24 years, becoming Manager of Advanced Energy Processes. Projects he was particularly proud of were his participation of the development of the insulating tiles used on the space shuttle and his two papers about ethanol. Before retiring, he worked one year with Booz-Allen.

RICHARD L. KEEFE, MD 11/14/35 - 7/6/08

Richard passed away due to heart problems in the arms of his loving wife at their home in Los Altos. He is survived by his devoted wife, Rita; loving son, Ryan and wife, Vernadette; adoring daughter, Erin and fiancé, Phil Musil; brothers Tom and Walt, nephews Chris, Jon, and Tim; and sisters Arlene Ryman and Jean Parry. He met his first grandson, Ethan, on May 22, and was happy to spend a few glorious weeks with this new life. There are countless other relatives, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and patients who mourn his death and will miss his extensive knowledge base on all subjects, sense of humor, and superb story-telling ability.

Born in Hartford, CT, to Kathleen and Walter Keefe, he was always driven to excel in academics, sports and life. After medical school, he joined the Navy and served two years overseas, but returned and settled in the Bay Area to do his dermatology residency. It was at this time, while at Stanford, that he met Rita Brennan, with whom he would strike an immediate bond that would be unbreakable for the next 44 years.