Editorial_Pages_080410

Comment Editorial

Peek into the Past

Los Altos: Few bummers in the summer

C

all us unimaginative, but we’re sorely lacking in anything negative (at least anything new) to put in this editorial space. That leaves the positive, and fortunately, we have plenty of such inventory in stock. So dear reader, get ready for another survey of events that deserve a salute, or – dare we say it? – a thumb pointing up?

• Thumbs-up: To the members of the Foothill Commission for their fabulous 2010 gala, held July 25. The event defined win-win.

Guests enjoyed an excellent Foothill production of the musical “Anything Goes” (see today’s Stepping Out section for the review), while contributing to an important cause, Foothill’s Adaptive Learning Division. Gala organizers estimated the event raised more than $70,000, nearly $20,000 more than last year. Congratulations on an excellent event, Foothill.

• Thumbs-up: To the Los Altos Village Association’s “Friday Movie Nights,” beginning this week. The popular series has proven a bit of a mixed blessing: Because of the costs associated with curbing the actions of a few rabble-rousers, organizers earlier this year wondered whether they could continue to sponsor the event. They could and they did – with help from the community. “The Sound of Music” is scheduled Friday on Main Street. Have fun.

• Thumbs-up: To downtown business leader Ron Labetich for taking matters into his own hands to help a struggling central business district. Labetich coordinated an effort involving several local donors to install a large sign at 300 S. San Antonio Road, complete with arrows pointing the way to town. The sign reminds passersby of the restaurants, shops and free parking available. It won’t be Labetich’s fault if people aren’t headed in the right direction.

• Thumbs-up: To Matthew Sweeney and Jarrett Fishpaw, who have taken out nomination papers to become candidates for the Los Altos City Council in the Nov. 2 election. If even one of them follows through and runs, we will have a race, one that already includes incumbent Val Carpenter and former Councilman Curtis Cole. If only two candidates compete for the two positions, they’re automatically seated. This leaves no choice for voters, no discussion of issues. Three people vying for two seats changes everything. It means an election, and it means we’re all the better for it.

• Thumbs-up: To the city for the final dispatch of the old KFC building at the corner of Main and First streets. While cleanup may take awhile and negotiations continue for the proposed new structure, the eyesore will not be missed.

• Thumbs-up: To the multiple summer programs for children of all ages, from programs at the El Camino YMCA, the city’s parks and rec department, Hidden Villa, the various sports activities covered in our Sports and Youth Athletics pages, and particularly to all the adult and teen volunteers who enrich the lives of thousands of youth.

• Thumbs-up: To U.S. Bank on Main Street for a quick rebound from the dramatic July 23 car crash through the front of the building.

The bank reopened for business a mere five days later. Congratulations.

COURTESY OF LISA ROBINSON/LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM

Take a look at central Los Altos from the air in this June 1946 photograph. The road running horizontally at the center of the photo is Main Street and the two-story building at the cross street is the Shoup Building, built in 1910 by developer Paul Shoup. Still standing, it was the scene of a dramatic car crash recently when a vehicle drove through the front of the old building. For more on the story, see this week’s News section beginning on Page 4.

Letters to the Editor Sherlock’s qualifications highly regarded As a 29-year resident of Los Altos Hills, I’m writing to express my concern about an article published in the July 14 Town Crier, “Filing deadline approaches for November election.”

It made the following comparison of the candidates for city council – “Three residents – Lockheed retiree Gary Waldeck, communications consultant and

Kerr’s wife Joan Sherlock and entrepreneur John Radford – have already committed to running, according to City Clerk Karen Jost.” It does not do justice to the qualifications of candidate Joan Sherlock and harks back to an era when female candidates were treated differently than their male colleagues.

Sherlock is a highly regarded professional in Silicon Valley who has played an important role in

Letters to the Editor

The Los Altos Town Crier welcomes letters to the editor on current events pertinent to Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View. Drop us a line at 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022, Attn: Editor, or e-mail letters to bruceb@latc.com.

Because editorial space is limited, please confine letters to no more than 200 words. Please include a phone number for verification purposes. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

industry-leading companies such as Sun Microsystems and SAP, where she is currently a director.

She is also an entrepreneur who ran a consulting company providing innovative solutions to many Silicon Valley firms. Her volunteer activities in the community are impressive, and she has the valuable perspective of one who grew up and raised a family in Los Altos Hills.

Peggy Allen Lizaur Los Altos Hills

Thanks for community sign A big thank you to those (businesses, organizations and individuals) for contributing to See LETTERS, Page 9

The Los Altos Town Crier, ISSN 87504585, is published weekly every Wednesday by the Los Altos Town Crier Inc., 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022. Periodicals Postage Paid at Los Altos, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Los Altos Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos CA 94022. The Los Altos Town Crier is an adjudicated newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County: Decree No. 328150. Yearly subscription rates in advance: Within County $20; Senior Citizen $15; Out of county $40.

Administration

Publisher: Paul Nyberg (Ext. 311) paulnyberg@aol.com Associate Publisher: Howard Bischoff (306) howardb@latc.com Human Resources: Liz Nyberg (312) liznyberg@aol.com Office Manager: Leverne Cornelius (300) levernec@latc.com

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief: Bruce Barton (301) bruceb@latc.com Managing Editor/Sports: Pete Borello (315) peteb@latc.com Special Sections/Schools editor: Traci Newell (316) tracin@latc.com Reporters: Mary Beth Hislop (318) marybethh@latc.com Jana Seshadri (317) janas@latc.com Copy Editors: Joan Garvin (copy chief) Colleen Schick Reporter/Photographer: Elliott Burr (313) elliottb@latc.com Page 8 / Los Altos Town Crier / August 4, 2010

Youth Athletics: Nancy Martin (319) nancym@latc.com Special Sections Designer: Mary Watanabe (323) maryw@latc.com Editorial Interns: Cassandra Feliciano (319); Nick Luther; Tara Ahi; Christiane Taylor

Ad Sales

Real Estate Advertising: Janice Fabella (302) janicef@latc.com Ad Sales: Dawn Pankonen (310) dawnp@latc.com Kathy Lera (307) kathyl@latc.com

Advertising Services

Director of Ad Services: Christina Redden (304) chrisr@latc.com Marilyn Winans (321) mjw@latc.com Mary Watanabe (323) maryw@latc.com

Janine O’Neill (303) janineo@latc.com

Classified Ads

Elaine Clark (308) elainec@latc.com Paid Obituaries: Elaine Clark (308) elainec@latc.com Advertising sales assistant: Janice Torrecampo (320) janicet@latc.com Advertising Intern: Tori Nyberg (309)

Main Number/Subscriptions: 948-9000

Faxes: Editorial: 948-6647 Classified: 948-4021 Display Advertising: 948-9053 Ad Services: 948-9213 Feedback line: 947-9457

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Copyright Los Altos Town Crier Company, Inc., 2010.

All Rights Reserved.

Comment

Sidewalk Interview Which historical figure would you like to be, and why?

(Asked in downtown Los Altos)

By Mary Beth Hislop

In the presence of after

I

try not to think about where I’m going anymore – where we’re all going after our lives on Earth have played out. But the subject came up at the dinner table the other evening as family from the East Coast arrived in preparation for my mother’s memorial. And as true advice as any was ever given, religion and politics aren’t topics for a pleasant repast.

Growing up in a staunchly Irish-Catholic family, Mom was days away from becoming a nun when she changed her mind.

Through the years, she turned away from the church and its teachings and opened her mind to other possibilities, other truths.

But many friends and family from her old neighborhood didn’t, and when they received word of her death, several people sent Mass cards to console her family. If she didn’t believe heaven was her ultimate destination, their prayers could be an atrocious waste of money.

Through the years, I’ve dabbled in different religions, contemplating their truths and meditating on their beliefs in an afterlife. I always wondered what we were supposed to do as angels in heaven – strum a harp or blow a trumpet? – neither of which I’ve learned to do.

So I’ve been wondering about the philosophy of reincarnation. Now I’m not a scholar in this ancient belief, but my limited understanding reads that depending on the level of knowledge you attain in this world, you can come back time and again – in human form. And if you don’t reach a certain level of wisdom, you return to the starting gate as an animal.

But I’m not sure being reincarnated as another person really appeals to me, either. To relive those awkward teenage years, to make up my mind,

“What to be? What to be?” And in a world of economic uncertainty? To do this living thing all over again? I think I’ll stay dumb.

Admittedly, the idea of returning as a free bird, flying wherever I wish to go – building nests without regard to money, building permits or property rights, an abundance of simple foods for the taking – count me in. Until I found out I don’t have the choice of species I’d want to be, and might end up as a caged canary.

I wouldn’t mind coming back as a canine – the United States’ revered household pet – except that a diet of horsemeat is tough enough to pan out to my own dog, let alone eat it myself. And, again, I’d possibly end up as a dog in a country of people who make canines the main course.

How about a horse? Saddled, stabled and eventually slaughtered for dog food? Nah. A cat? But to be stuck indoors forever or even outside dodging cars, hawks and raccoons – they might not have such a great life, either.

All joking aside, I do wonder if the religious beliefs we hold limit us to what is or what could be.

As I write this, my family will scatter Mom’s ashes later today. And I wonder – is her soul watching over us? Does she offer signs of her presence that I don’t see because I don’t believe in an afterlife? Or is her presence a given because her memory lives in everyone she knew and loved?

The one thing I do know is that we’ll never know. We may have faith in our beliefs, but we never really know.

And without that knowledge, it simply becomes important to live and love while we’re here, because if there is nothing more, we only live on in the memories of those around us.

Mary Beth Hislop is a Town Crier staff writer.

Contact her at marybethh@latc.com.

All of the Above

George Washington. He started it off – the government and everything.

Megan Loveall Sunnyvale

Martin Luther King Jr. He fought so strongly for civil rights and what he believed in, even though it led to his death.

Elizabeth Arnsdorf Patterson San Jose

Elizabeth I. It was nice to see a smart woman in power.

Nicole Jeffery Palo Alto

Paul Revere – (he’s) an action man.

Paul Conard Sunnyvale

LETTERS From Page 8

the community sign at 300 S. San Antonio Road in Los Altos.

It’s a simple message to remind our residents to patronize our downtown stores and restaurants regularly.

Los Altos and Los Altos Hills are two of the best places to live in the world, and it is vital that we locals spend some of our money here.

Drive by and see the sign.

Ron Labetich Los Altos

Water district has not raised rates Captain Cook. I think it would be great to explore Australia.

Graham Cann Sunnyvale

Elizabeth I, because I like the dresses and the power.

Elizabeth Rowe Los Altos Hills

Interviews and photos by Cassandra Feliciano

The Town Crier’s July 21 article, “Los Altos councilman runs for water board” had several inaccurate points that I want to correct, for the public’s information.

The article stated that “Becker said he worries about the constant hikes in water rates over the past few years and doesn’t know why the increases occur with such frequency.”

The truth is that the board of directors has voted not to raise water rates one penny for the past three years In fact, April 7, the district’s Water Commission, of which Becker is a member, at the suggestion of Becker, unanimously voted to commend the board of directors for not increasing the groundwater production charges.

Patrick Kwok Santa Clara Valley Water District Director, District 5

Shocked by letter in TC My response to Nancy Carlson’s letter in the July 28 Town Crier: shock.

One would hope that citizens, organized by a government in a civilized society, help each other.

The alternative is chaos.

I proudly volunteered more than 15,000 otherwise-not-funded hours to the U.S. Geological Survey.

After my military enlistment ended, I accepted an additional five years in the modern equivalent of the standby militia, as cod-

ified in the Second Amendment.

Donald Plouff Los Altos

Church group appreciates coverage The Mariners’ Group of Union Presbyterian Church wants to thank you for your wonderful coverage of our 39th annual pancake breakfast July 5.

In addition to a delicious breakfast, we had several Boy Scouts from Troop 31, which meets at our church, present a Color Guard ceremony, and we also had live patriotic music played by the Burks family who attend our church. We served more than 200 people this year and really enjoyed the day.

This year, proceeds from the breakfast support Help One Child, a group dedicated to helping foster children and their families in our area. We received $1,442 in donations at the breakfast for this organization.

Chuck and Sue Michel Pancake Breakfast Committee, Union Presbyterian Church Los Altos

August 4, 2010 / Los Altos Town Crier / Page 9