vol. 73 no. 14 - los altos town crier · page 2 / los altos town crier / april 1, 2020 los altos...

Los Altos police educating, regulating after issuing of shelter-in-place orderBy Melissa HartmanStaff Writer/[email protected]

Police told tennis players at Los Al-tos High School one recent Friday morning they had to go home.

“He said we were ‘violating the law’ unless we were from the same house-hold,” a Town Crier reader wrote in an email. “We explained that we made

certain to arrive at the courts separately and we kept more than 6 feet apart at all times.” “Not every question has a clear yes or no answer, but we are doing our best to balance the restrictions of the order to stay home and self-isolate with the need to obtain or receive vital services,” said Los Altos Police Chief Andy Galea.

“Aside from the social distancing aspect, people need to remember that the virus can survive on surfaces for an extend-ed period of time. Sharing any type of equipment (tennis balls/basketballs/soc-cer balls) clearly creates a risk of spread-ing the disease and violates the intent of the order to self-isolate.” Officers are responding to calls to

clarify the restrictions and to warn resi-dents who violate the order they could be charged with a misdemeanor. But police are receiving relatively few calls in the wake of Gov. Gavin New-som’s March 19 mandate to stay home. Galea told the Los Altos City Council at a virtual meeting last week that he is

See HOSPITAL, Page 5

See POLICE, Page 5

CommunityOrganizers of landmark Los Altos events turn to Plan B amid pandemic.

Page 9

SchoolsLos Altos High seniors volunteer to shop for vulnerable residents.

6

WEDNESDAY • April 1, 2020Vol. 73 No. 14 • 50 cents losaltosonline.comCommunity news for Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View since 1947

Grab-and-go

Business & Real Estate . . 22Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Community . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Letter to the Editor . . . . . . 8Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . 26On the Road . . . . . . . . . . 20

Peek into the Past . . . . . . . 8Public Notices . . . . . . . . . 27Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ALSO INSIDE – APRIL 1, 2020

On the RoadSubaru’s Outback Touring XT inspires loyal fan base.

Page 20

El Camino Hospital managing patient flow, readying for possible surge

By Melissa HartmanStaff Writer/[email protected]

El Camino Health CEO Dan Woods said he is proud of his team’s

preparation for a possible uptick in patient visits as the number of coronavirus cases climbs in Santa Clara County. Woods expressed optimism Friday as the health-care system’s testing data hints that local residents are complying with the shelter-in-place order, and he told the Town Crier that the network’s Mountain View and Los Gatos hospi-tals are doing “just fine.”

Under control According to Woods, the coronavi-rus crisis is not overrunning or inun-dating hospital staff’s capacity to serve. In fact, as of Friday, he said, 95% of pa-tients being treated at El Camino Hos-pital’s campuses daily are not corona-

virus patients. The hospital has chosen, like several others in the area, to cancel elective surgeries for two primary rea-sons: to break the chain of mass ex-posure and to brace for the possibility that enough people ignore the shelter-

in-place order that the curve continues to rise. “Everyone keeps talking about a potential surge. … We’re all kind of expand-ing and making room in the eventuality that a pos-sible patient surge happens,” Woods said in a phone inter-view.

Thus far, El Camino Health has test-ed 300 people for COVID-19 between both hospitals. On average, 10% tested positive. That’s in line with other area hospi-tals, said Woods, who speaks regularly these days with fellow local hospital administrators. On average, between 6% and 11% of those tested at any giv-en hospital in the Bay Area test positive for the virus. The turnaround time for test results improves with each day; for now, El Camino Hospital patients can rely on

MEGAN V. WINSLOW/TOWN CRIER

The queue for ordering at the Peet’s Coffee in downtown Los Altos stretches into State Street Friday afternoon as customers strive to leave 6 feet between themselves and strangers, per orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom and the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department. Many restaurants have resorted to offering takeout and delivery only. Visit losaltosonline.com for lists of which businesses remain operational.

CEO talks preparation as area’s confirmed COVID-19 cases rise

Pets In Need offers aid during pandemicBy Megan V. Winslow Staff Writer/[email protected]

In addition to upending the retail and services indus-tries, the coronavirus pan-

demic has forced disruption among local animal services operations; shelter-in-place or-

ders from the County of Santa Clara Public Health Depart-ment and Gov. Gavin Newsom mean the temporary shuttering of Pets In Need, or PIN, which serves Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. The animal rescue orga-nization is unable to process

adoptions at this time. Within 48 hours of New-som’s March 19 order, howev-er, PIN managed to place more than 140 animals from its Palo Alto and Redwood City shel-ters into foster homes.

See PETS, Page 6

Woods

/ Los Altos Town Crier / April 1, 2020

Los AltosTown Crier

Since 1947losaltosonline.com

An LATC Media, Inc. company

To our readers:

As we shelter in place, many of us are filled with uncertainty. This is understandable.

Los Altos Community Foundation and the Los Altos Town Crier want to offer resources for residents who have questions about their safety – and how they can help others.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department (sccgov.org) is the best source for news on the status of the outbreak and the latest directives. Go to the Town Crier’s website, (losaltosonline.com) for the latest coverage. The cities of Los Altos (losaltosca.gov) and Mountain View (mountainview.gov), and the town of Los Altos Hills (losaltoshills.ca.gov) have the latest information on what our local leaders are doing.

Residents can help in a variety of ways. Los Altos Community Foundation has set up a nonprofit relief fund to help organizations like the Community Services Agency. Donate at losaltoscf.org.

Many of our local businesses have been hurt by the lockdown. You can help support them. The Town Crier has a list of local restaurants that are offering takeout and curbside pickup service. You can find them on losaltosonline.com.

Finally, please support the Town Crier and its advertisers. Keep us operating so we can continue to serve you. Subscribe today at losaltosonline.com/subscribe.

Stay healthy. We’re going to get through this. Thank you,

Adin Miller, Executive DirectorLos Altos Community Foundation

Howard Bischoff, Co-PublisherLos Altos Town Crier

Dennis Young, Co-PublisherLos Altos Town Crier

April 1, 2020 / Los Altos Town Crier /

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We have been hearing personal stories from residents about how they’re coping during the shelter-in-place and about what they’re observing in the community. What kind of activities have brought

you meaning and comfort this week? What challenges are you facing? Our editor-in-chief Bruce Barton is collecting responses to feature in future issues of the Town Crier; email him at [email protected]. If you’re a local family with children at home, reporter Eliza Ridgeway is calling all junior reporters – she’s got drawing and reporting assignments for the Lois Lanes and Clark Kents of the next generation. Sign up at bit.ly/TCvirtualnewsroom, and email her stories from the school-at-trenches at [email protected].

Thank you – we need youOur newsroom relies exclusively on support from advertisers and subscribers. As local businesses reel under the weight of virus-driven shutdowns, individual readers have been stepping up to help keep us in print. Thank you for the subscriptions, donations, encouragement and aid during this crisis – the newsroom needs you. Please consider advertising with [email protected], or subscribing or donating at losaltosonline.com/subscribe. You also can email [email protected] with any ques-tions about other ways to help.

Sometimes solitary, sometimes riding in sync at a dis-tance, kids on bikes zoomed around Gardner Bullis School’s empty campus last week in Los Altos Hills. The occasional shouted reminder from a parent to stay 6 or more feet away from one another reflected the new rules of outdoor play.

MEGAN V. WINSLOW/ TOWN CRIER


NewsExpressway widening set to beginTown Crier Report

Work on expansion of Foothill Expressway in Los Altos is set to

begin the week of April 13, ac-cording to Los Altos and Santa Clara County transportation of-ficials. Tom Madalena, Los Altos transportation manager, con-firmed Monday the project is moving foward. Delays with contractor scheduling and construction materials pushed the start date ahead by a month, said Chris-tine Lee of the county’s Roads and Airports Department. The initial start date was the begin-ning of March. The $6.6 million project is intended to improve safety and address a commute bottleneck along the expressway between the El Monte Avenue and San Antonio Road intersections. Some elements include ad-ditional lanes in each direction, a second through lane on west-bound El Monte, a second right-turn lane on southbound Foothill onto El Monte and the squaring of all four corners at the Foothill-El Monte intersection to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety.

By Megan V. Winslow Staff Writer/[email protected]

No town picnic. No Pathways Run or hop-ping hounds scour-

ing Byrne Preserve for milk bones. All three Los Altos Hills events – and many more – have been canceled due to coronavirus concerns. “We need to err on the side of safety and public health, and I think gathering that many people together is not a good idea,” said Sarah Ro-bustelli, town community ser-vices supervisor, last week. To maintain a sense of community through other means – and to provide resi-dents with ideas for keep-ing active while sheltering at home – the Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation depart-ment has launched a virtual recreation resources page on the town’s website at losal-toshills.ca.gov. From indoor and outdoor activities to tips for working from home and staying con-nected with friends, the page is exhaustive. There are links to online museum and park “tours,” notices about local nonprofits in need of volunteers and lists of grocery stores of-fering special senior shopping hours during the coronavirus pandemic. An email from Robustelli’s fellow California Park and

Recreation Society member Nick Calubaquib inspired the idea. As director of Parks and Community Services for Wat-sonville, he created that city’s own virtual recreation and re-sources center. Robustelli described Ca-lubaquib’s project as uplifting. “I thought, ‘Oh. I can do that. We can do that and tailor it to Los Altos Hills and pro-vide what I think people are looking for: just some positiv-ity right now,’” she said. When designing her own virtual recreation page, Ro-bustelli realized many local activity opportunities already existed on the town’s website; it was simply a matter of com-piling resources in a central place, so residents knew about them. She added links to the town’s digital art gallery and to information sheets about recommended methods for

tackling invasive weeds such as oxalis and the dreaded stinkwort.

Virtual classes The current environment of social distancing has also provoked a new type of offer-ing on the page, one that might endure even after the shelter orders are lifted: virtual class-es with the various educators the town contracts with. Last week, four people participated in a mindful eating course and 20 learned the basics of back-yard chicken care via Zoom web conferencing. Both class-es were offered free. Los Altos resident Isabelle Cnudde, founder of animal advocacy nonprofit Cloro-fil, taught the poultry prim-er, a two-hour lecture and Q&A on housing, food and maintenance called Gearing

Second case of coronavirus reported in LA senior homeTown Crier Report

A second case of the coronavirus at a local assisted-care facility

was reported March 23. A BridgePoint at Los Altos assisted-living patient received a “presumptive positive” result for COVID-19, according to execu-tive director Maria Quintero. “The resident’s family and healthcare authorities were no-tified immediately,” Quintero said in a letter to the public. “At this time, the origin of the ex-posure is unknown and on the advice of medical authorities, the resident remains quaran-

tined in their apartment.” Quintero said details on the patient’s condition “will be provided only by healthcare authorities.” She added that ongoing protocols include re-stricting visitation and moni-toring residents and associates daily for temperature and re-spiratory symptoms. “At this point in time, we will transition into a complete quar-antine restricting all residents to their apartments until further notice,” Quintero added. BridgePoint’s announce-ment follows a March 19 re-port from Los Altos Sub-acute and Rehabilitation Center of a

75-year-old male resident who tested positive for COVID-19. Covenant Care, which manages Los Altos Sub-acute, also noted it is following protocols to en-sure the safety of other patients, visitors and staff. Facilities housing vulner-able senior populations present greater opportunities for expo-sure to the virus. HumanGood Healthcare, which operates The Terraces at Los Altos among other senior living communities, had no re-ports of coronavirus cases at its Los Altos location on Pine Lane but revealed a “team member” at The Terraces at Los Gatos

tested positive for the virus and is in self-quarantine. “At this time, I think every-one is doing the best they can and putting in all the neces-sary precautions,” said Corine Bernard, executive director of the Villa Siena senior living community in Mountain View. “Los Altos Sub-acute is actu-ally a skilled-nursing facility, with the majority being high-acuity patients who oftentimes are transferred from the acute hospitals. We are working with a very vulnerable population, so it is important that we stay diligent in our efforts to keep everyone healthy.”

Los Altos Hills’ town website aggregates virtual activities, resources


A bench outside the Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation building hosts free dog biscuits and pathways maps.

See LAH, Page 7

By Zoe MorganStaff Writer/[email protected]

Local residents can now get more insight into the spread of the coronavirus in Santa Clara

County, with an online data dash-board the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department launched last week. The dashboard includes a graph showing the increase over time in the total number of confirmed cases, as well as another graph of the new cases each day. Cases are broken down by age group as well as gender. Deaths are also broken down by age group, gender and whether the patient had comorbidities (other already-occur-ring diseases or conditions). The dash-board does not include the number of people hospitalized, data the county had previously been reporting. The dashboard showed 848 con-firmed COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County on Monday, the most recent data available as of the Town Crier’s press deadline. That’s an in-crease of 202 from the day before; however, according to the health de-partment, some results had not been reported over the prior two days. “This increase reflects a reporting delay, not necessarily a significant single day increase,” the health de-partment’s website reads. “However, we expect that the overall number of confirmed cases will continue to rise as testing capacity increases.” Because of the virus’ incubation period, social distancing also takes at least two weeks to begin to have an effect, Dr. Jeff Smith, the county’s chief executive officer, said at a press conference Friday. “Right now, it’s really not impor-tant if you want to stay healthy to be counting numbers and trying to look at curves and looking at projections,” he said. “What’s really, really impor-tant is to stay at home, stay away from other people as much as you can – do the social distancing.” Six Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara County, have been under a shelter-in-place order since March 17. Residents are directed to stay at home, except to engage in “essential activities” such as buying food and medical supplies. Going outside to exercise is permissible, as long as 6 feet of distance is maintained between people. “Essential businesses,” such as grocery stores and gas stations, are

Dashboard tracks virus statistics

See DASHBOARD, Page 6

Read more about the city of Los Altos’

initiative to drive community morale

on page 12.


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seeing in Los Altos what is likely representative of other communities: a generally compliant citi-zenry. The Los Altos Police Department’s challenge, according to Galea, is convincing people that sheltering in place means staying inside their residences, with few exemptions. People using facilities at parks and schools without under-standing the implications of sharing equipment need to be educated by officers, he said. Up un-til last week, police had not issued any citations, City Manager Chris Jordan shared with the city council.

While posts on the online Nextdoor social net-work may tell a different story, Galea said viola-tors of the order, whether purposeful or not, are not confined to one age group. With basketball or football appealing to a younger crowd and tennis popular with “people a bit older,” no one group has the order nailed, he said. However, Galea added, people readily comply when asked to. Police Capt. Katie Krauss confirmed Galea’s observations. “We are still focusing our efforts on education, and have found that people are receptive,” she told the Town Crier. “Most of our patrol officers’ time is spent patrolling commercial areas and also the parks/open spaces. We want to remain visible and available for residents.”

POLICEFrom Page 1

HOSPITALFrom Page 1

Two men approach a tent outside the El Camino Hospital emergency room in Mountain View Friday afternoon. Two tents have been erected to treat patients exhibiting coronavirus symptoms. The main emergency room doors are designated for patients suffering from noncoronavirus- related illnesses.


12-24 hours. Woods said the ma-jority of those who tested positive at the network’s hospitals have not required hospitalization and have been sent home and told to isolate from others. El Camino Health has set up two tents outside each of its hos-pitals. The main emergency room door is for patients not experienc-ing respiratory-related symptoms but rather “typical broken bones, lacerations and classic abdominal pains,” Woods said. The tents near an alternate entrance are for those who are experiencing the symp-toms associated with the coronavi-rus, who are then sent to what the hospitals call an “accelerated area.” “If you have to go to the ER, you probably don’t want to sit next to COVID-19 patients,” Woods said. “Tents allow us to segregate these patients and expand the capacity. ... Well, the saying is, ‘You expect the worst but hope for the best.’”

Crunching the numbers Woods said the hospitals run three different statistical models daily based on the experiences and frequency of what medical personnel are currently handling and anticipated service in the fu-

ture. But even a well-structured model, with predicted demand tested against facility assets, em-ployed assets and equipment, is just an educated guess. Woods noted that the hospi-tals’ purchasing department has been placing orders with suppli-ers ahead of time, so El Camino Hospital is one of the few that has enough personal protective equip-ment (PPE) for those caring for contagious patients. “We have gotten pretty close (to running out of) some sup-plies,” Woods said, adding assur-ances that the hospitals ordered enough ventilators in advance. “You really have to try to prop-erly utilize the supplies you have. Believe it or not, human nature is to hoard things, but we’ve placed a restriction on how (PPE) is uti-lized and are forecasting ahead based on current supply inventory and usage.” In fact, resources are solid enough that the health-care net-work identified two nurses with military backgrounds and dis-patched them to the Santa Clara Convention Center last week, a fa-cility designated to serve as a fed-eral field hospital with 248 beds for patients if and when nearby hospi-tals experience an overflow. The temporary setup came just one day

after Kaiser Permanente San Jose hospital officials announced that more than half of their current pa-tients are being treated for symp-toms of the coronavirus. El Camino Health director of communications Christopher Brown said the hospital is not considering a similar overflow setup at the old hospital building on the Mountain View campus. “The old hospital patient rooms were taken out of commission ap-proximately 10 years ago, and we are not recommending the reopen-ing of this facility,” he said in an email to the Town Crier. Woods described the outpour-ing of support hospital executives and staff have received from the community as “incredible.” But the best way residents can help, he said, is to follow the rules: Listen to health officers across California and stay home. “The biggest influence on pre-dicted demand for health-care services is dependent on shelter-ing in place,” Woods said. “If there’s high compliance (with the statewide order), we break the cycle of transmission. If there’s low compliance, we’re looking at another New York.” For ongoing coronavirus cov-erage, follow the Town Crier on Facebook and Twitter.


News

COURTESY OF AMIE HEDDLE

Los Altos Hills residents Nyx Swildens, left, and Val Swildens cuddle with puppies they’re helping their mother, Amie Heddle, foster for Pets In Need.

“I was just amazed,” said Al Mollica, PIN’s executive director. “I was thinking if we could get just half of the animals into shelters, it would be a really successful en-deavor, but we were actually able to get every single adoptable ani-mal into fosters, which is fantastic.” Currently, there are actually more volunteers than animals available for fostering, he added. Los Altos Hills resident Amie Heddle’s family is among those who answered the call to help. Af-ter about a week at Heddle’s house, the three cattle dog mix puppies she fostered were supposed to return to PIN for neutering and adoption. But then the orders came. She agreed to let Zeus, Dio-nysus and Poseidon stay until the shelter could reopen. “With everything shut down, those dogs would be miserable in the shelter; no one can go and see them and take them home to their forever place,” Heddle said. “We’re kind of just giving them a parking lot, a happy place to be until they can go back to the shelter and then find their forever home.” Redwood City resident Dr.

Beth Browdy, a cat socialization volunteer for PIN, took in Queen Shadow, a 3-year-old black feline. It would have been unthinkable to let any animal linger in the shel-ters, Browdy explained. “People always say that when you rescue a pet, you’re saving them. That’s what people say: ‘Oh, you’re so nice,’” she said. “But it’s really the other way around. I think pets save us. I really do be-lieve that.” PIN executives are giving back, too. They’ve tapped into the orga-nization’s reserve funds to apply $25,000 toward grants for area residents with demonstrated finan-cial need who are unable to pay for veterinary care and/or pet supplies during the pandemic. Within hours of announcing the emergency assistance program last week, PIN had received 15 appli-cations, a clear sign, Mollica said, that the money won’t last long. “These are not necessarily your traditional homeless people, peo-ple in real low-income situations,” he said. “They’re just like a lot of people in the Bay Area – they live paycheck to paycheck.” PIN is helping others in similar circumstances by partnering with the Ecumenical Hunger Program

in East Palo Alto to provide pet food and supplies to EHP clients who can’t afford them. All these efforts reflect the im-portance of animals in the lives of humans, Mollica said. “Everybody sort of lives a smaller life when you’re in a situa-tion like this, and you rely on those closest to you that bring you the most comfort,” he said. “I think we all feel like we need that right now.” For more information, visit petsinneed.org.

PETSFrom Page 1

also allowed to continue to oper-ate. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a similar statewide order to shelter in place March 19. According to a press release issued Monday, the six Bay Area counties that initiated the March 17 shelter-in-place order are “up-dating (the order) in coming days” to extend it through at least May 1. Smith stressed that residents

should focus on what they can control – following social dis-tancing requirements. “The real message I want to give to everyone is stay inside, avoid contact with other people except your family, and make sure that you obey the social dis-tancing rules when you have to go out to go to the grocery store,” he said. Due to limited space, this article is available in full at losaltosonline.com.

DASHBOARDFrom Page 4

RYAN MOLINARI/SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

There were 848 confirmed coronavirus cases in Santa Clara County as of the Town Crier’s Monday press deadline.


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NewsSimitian aims to ensure compliance from Lehigh over pollution violationTown Crier Report

Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian said he wants a resolution “once and for all” on a notice of violation levied against Lehigh

Southwest Cement Co. for failure to con-trol sedimentation into Permanente Creek. At his urging, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 24 to direct Planning Department staff to report back by May 12 with the status of the violation, issued last June. Simitian said his goal is to ensure com-pliance. “Look, it’s been nine months since the violation, and we still don’t have a resolu-tion,” said Simitian, whose district includes the Le-high Cement and Permanente Quarry outside Cu-pertino and south of Los Altos. “Staff argues one side and Lehigh argues another. We still haven’t gotten a clear resolution, and we need to.” Lehigh was cited for failure to control sedimen-tation and failure to comply with its approved recla-mation plan’s conditions of approval. Simitian noted in December that if the notice of violation was not

closed by early February, he would bring the matter to the full board. “The Planning Department will be reporting back on the status of this effort so that the Board and the public can get a better understanding of

where we are in the process of clearing the violation and ensuring the creek is pro-tected,” Simitian said. “My primary con-cern is that the violation is abated, and we can be sure the facility is operating law- fully.” Although the hills outside Cupertino have been mined for limestone for more than 100 years, the heavy-polluting indus-try is now located adjacent to residential neighborhoods, creating ongoing environ-

mental, health and safety challenges. After returning to the Board of Supervisors in 2013, Simitian pushed for increased oversight at Le-high and for the county to step up its oversight role by increasing on-site inspections. He also hosts an annual community meeting where residents can ask questions and hear from relevant regulatory agen-cies directly. One such meeting occurred in Febru-ary in Cupertino.

Up for Pet Chickens. Happy and Healthy Pet Chickens, a more ad-vanced class for current caretak-ers, is scheduled 10 a.m. Satur-day. It is also free, but donations to support Clorofil’s other educa-tion programs are welcome. Whether Cnudde continues to offer virtual classes is contingent on this small test run. She was,

however, surprised to learn her registrants included at least one person watching from Virginia. “If I’m able to reach people outside the Bay Area, that’s pret-ty cool,” Cnudde said. “So we’ll see. Let’s try first, see how it goes, see the feedback, how it really runs.” And fear not: All those mini Hoppin’ Hounds milk bones won’t go to waste. Robustelli’s colleague, recreation special-

ist Chris Knopf, has been fill-ing and refilling a cup of them for town hall visitors. Follow your four-legged companion’s nose to its location just out-side the Parks and Recreation building. “It’s a way to use what we’ve already purchased and also give them back to the residents,” Ro-bustelli said. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/LAH-VirtualRec.

LAHFrom Page 4

Simitian


Comment

The Los Altos Town Crier, ISSN 87504585, is published weekly every Wednesday by LATC Media 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, $40; seniors, $30; out of county, $50.

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Letter to the EditorLetters to the editor

The Town Crier welcomes let-ters to the editor on current

events pertinent to Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View. Email letters to [email protected]. Please limit letters to no more than 200 words. Anon-ymous letters will not be pub-lished.

Peek into the Past

COURTESY OF LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM

In 1954, the railroad ran along the route of the present-day Foothill Expressway. Lincoln Avenue and St. Nicholas Church can be seen in the lower-left corner. The McElroy lumberyard was located at the intersection of First Street and San Antonio Road on the lower right. Lincoln Park was developed in the remaining open space after the expressway was completed in the late 1960s.

Diesel generator sets bad precedent The following is an open let-ter to the Los Altos City Coun-cil. I am writing you regarding the property at 4880 El Camino Real, Los Altos, called the Al-tan. The developer is requesting a diesel-powered generator for the elevator positioned on the roof, even though the developer promised not to have a genera-tor on the roof, and the plans depicted batteries in the base-ment area. The generator needs to power the elevator that must need to run for two hours during a power outage. The proposed diesel gen-erator can be removed from the roof and the batteries can be lo-cated on the building, with the generator in the basement. This arrangement would be consis-tent with the project that was ap-proved by the city council. A diesel generator is opposed by the neighbors in the area. The

diesel generator is something that will have to be exercised weekly for 20 minutes. The fuel will have to be changed on an annual basis. How will the die-sel be transported to the top of the building? Any diesel engine, after sitting idle for a week, will make a decent cloud of smoke. Every week, the neighbors will be exposed to emissions, soot and noise from this generator. This is a very bad precedent, if this generator is allowed, that will result in more diesel genera-tors in the city. I don’t think the city should allow diesel genera-

tors when other feasible and less harmful alternatives are avail-able, like the batteries that were included in the plan considered by the city council. Los Altos is a high-standard city with a good quality of life. In a town where one of their signature goals is to be more ecologically safe and sound, a diesel generator moves the town backwards against their publicly stated goals. If every commer-cial and residential building was allowed a diesel generator, the town will be very different. How is this even possible in 2020 that a diesel generator would even be considered? This diesel generator was not approved by the city council and, at the least, should be sub-ject to a public hearing, not on an agenda that the public gets to give no input. I beg the stewards of our trust to deny this diesel generator, now.

Terri CoutureLos Altos

Locals rising to the challenge

The coronavirus pandemic has some of us thinking, “This just can’t be happening.” But it is. Still, optimism abounds. Los Altos residents are finding

reasons to smile and stay grounded. They’re channeling anxiety into action and looking to help those less fortunate. Following are some observations from the events of the past week: Thumbs-up: To all of our residents playing by the rules. To our youth heeding the signs to stay off playground equipment, thank you. To those avoiding unnecessary trips and practicing social distancing, thank you. You’re staying safe while ensuring the safety of others. Thumbs-up: To the leaders of our business support organi-zations, among others, who are helping small businesses in the wake of the lockdown. Community members and leaders at the Los Altos and Mountain View Chambers of Commerce and the Los Altos Village Association have stepped up (as has the Town Crier) to provide accessible online lists of businesses remaining open and restaurants offering takeout and curbside deliveries. Thumbs-up: To acts of kindness being committed all over the city. From high school seniors delivering bags of groceries to homebound seniors to outreach efforts helping hospitals and doctors with medical equipment, thank you for making a differ-ence. We also extend a thank-you to Dr. Kevin Sawyer and Terri Sawyer, who created chalk drawings with uplifting messages on the sidewalks in front of businesses at Rancho Shopping Center. For some residents and merchants, it made their day. Thumbs-up: To our local and regional governments for act-ing quickly and decisively in response to the crisis. Santa Clara County was ahead of the state in issuing a shelter-in-place direc-tive. The county Board of Supervisors last week issued a tem-porary ban on residential and commercial evictions as people face the prospect of not being able to afford to pay rent. The city of Los Altos has taken additional actions to ensure our safety. It’s this team effort of everyone rising to the challenge that is reassuring – and needed – in our ongoing global war against the coronavirus.

Editorial


CommunityCommunity Briefs

TC, Baskin-Robbins hold coloring contest The Town Crier is conduct-ing its annual Easter Egg Color-ing Contest on schedule, in part-nership with Baskin-Robbins in downtown Los Altos. Look for the contest drawing on page 14 of this issue. Draw-ings should be turned in to the Town Crier no later than April 15. Either drop them by or mail them to 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022. Entries are limited to one per person. Ice cream prizes will be awarded in two age groups: 4-6 and 7-10. All winners will have their pictures published in the Town Crier, and the entries will be dis-played at Baskin-Robbins at 264 State St. in Los Altos.

Hidden Villa, TC host writing contest Hidden Villa and the Los Al-tos Town Crier have partnered to co-sponsor a writing contest for all ages. The deadline for enter-ing has been extended to April 12. The prompt: Describe an experience at Hidden Villa that helped you see the world in a different way. Essays should be no longer than one page, single-spaced in a 12-point font. Prizes will be awarded to winners in three age groups: 12 and under, 13-17, and 18 and over. The first-place win-ner in each age group will re-ceive a Hidden Villa Season Pass and have their essays pub-lished in the Town Crier. Sec-ond- and third-place winners will each receive three free day passes. Photos or artwork may ac-company essays. Email submissions to [email protected].

E3 Youth Philanthropy extends deadline In light of the recent school closures, E3 Youth Philan-thropy, a program of Los Altos Community Foundation, has ex-tended its 2020-2021 application process to Monday. Students entering 10th or 11th grade in the fall who live in Los

Cal Water: Residents won’t get coronavirus from tap waterTown Crier Report

People may contract the coronavirus through close human contact or not thoroughly washing their hands, but

they won’t get it from drinking tap water. Officials with California Water Service Co., which has a Los Altos office, assured customers last week their drinking water is safe. “Recently, we’ve seen concerns about the safety of tap water as well as scammers tar-geting utility providers’ customers through phone, mail and email for personal informa-tion or to demand payment for their bills,”

said Cal Water spokesman Don Jones. Jones cited experts from leading public health agencies, including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who assert that COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through drinking water. “The safeguards we already take to protect water quality are effective to pro-tect against viruses, including COVID-19,” Jones said March 25. “The (U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency) even explicitly recommends that Americans continue to use and drink tap water as usual.”

The company also warned against scam-mers targeting customers for money. Jones said Cal Water does not call customers and ask for payment using a specific method. “If any customers receive a call or let-ter related to their water bill and are unsure whether it is legitimate, please do not de-posit any checks or provide any credit card or personal information, and call (the Los Altos office at 917-0152) for verification,” he advised.

For more information, visit calwater.com.

Crisis leaves major Los Altos events in flux

Scenes from last year’s Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival, above, and the Rotary Club of Los Altos’ Fine Art in the Park, left, capture happier, more carefree times in the days before social distancing and the coronavirus pandemic. Such events in 2020 face post-ponement or even cancellation, as there is no clear timeline for when the shelter-in-place directive will end.

TOWN CRIER FILE PHOTOS

See BRIEFS, Page 12

Town Crier Staff Report

The expanding corona-virus crisis will likely mean continued cancel-

lations or postponements of Los Altos events. Three of the biggest of the year, the Rotary Club of Los Altos’ Fine Art in the Park, the Kiwanis Club of Los Altos’ Pet Parade and the Los Altos Vil-lage Association’s summer Arts & Wine Festival, all could be impacted. Rotarians have already moved the date of their popu-lar event. Originally scheduled May 16 and 17, the club has postponed Fine Art in the Park to Aug. 29 and 30. Harry Price, event committee director, noted that Rotarians have selected a one-time post-ponement date and would reas-sess in July. “The decision was made for the obvious COVID-19 shelter-in-place reasons causing so many things to be closed or can-celed,” he said. “We were reluc-tant to completely cancel, as this is our annual fundraiser – and the funds that we raise are for the purpose of distributing funds to many local charitable organi-zations.” Price, like many others, is dealing with a situation in flux. “If, shockingly, the public is not allowed to congregate by July (we do not expect that), then at that time, we will actu-ally cancel the event for 2020,” he added. “In 2021, we will go back to our traditional date – the weekend after Mother’s Day in May 2021.” The 45th annual event, set to be held in Lincoln Park, features

the work of more than 160 art-ists, a variety of food and bever-ages, and live entertainment. Local Kiwanis members plan to decide soon on the status of the annual Pet Parade in down-town Los Altos. It’s currently set for May 16, but some health officials have speculated that the coronavirus danger may still be a problem at that time. The largely informal parade for pets and pet owners along Main and State streets is in its 73rd year.

Meanwhile, the 41st annual Los Altos Arts & Wine Festi-val is still scheduled July 11 and 12 in downtown Los Altos. It is the primary fundraiser for the Los Altos Village Association, the advocacy organization for downtown businesses. “Right now, we’re still good to go,” said Scott Hunter, LAVA executive director. “We’ve talk-ed about it (postponement) – it’s certainly on our minds. … We’re still a little too far out.”

Hunter indicated the LAVA board has until mid-May to de-cide on postponement. “Then the question would be, what’s a good rescheduled date?” he said. LAVA already has had to cancel several spring events due to the health crisis, includ-ing the annual downtown Easter egg hunt and its St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll. For ongoing updates, visit losaltosonline.com.


Community

Rancho Shopping Center ‘chalk bandits’ caught in the act

ABOVE PHOTO COURTESY OF HOPE DALY; RIGHT PHOTO BY MARIE GODDERIS/TOWN CRIER

Uplifting chalk-art messages began appearing on sidewalks at Rancho Shopping Center in Los Altos last week, prompting positive feedback as well as questions about the artists’ identities. They were revealed Friday, with Dr. Kevin Sawyer, a longtime Rancho business owner and community cheerleader, and his wife Terri caught in the act, above. The art carried various messages, including “Los Altos Strong” and “Love Grows.” Our favorite, in front of Andronico’s Community Market: “Romaine Calm, Be Safe.”

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Community

Altos, Los Altos Hills or Moun-tain View and/or attend school in one of the cities are eligible to apply. E3 aims to educate, engage and empower local youth to cre-ate positive change in their com-munities. For applications and more information, visit losaltoscf.org/e3.

Midpen preserves still open – for now The Los Altos-based Mid-peninsula Regional Open Space District continues to keep its preserves and trails open to the public. However, the agency continues to appeal to the public to practice social distancing. Parks and open space agen-cies across the region, including Midpen, are experiencing high visitation. “We need everyone’s help,” Midpen Foothills Superinten-dent Brad Pennington said. “If we can’t keep people safe, we can’t stay open. We all need to take the shelter-at-home orders seriously and stay as close to home as we can.” Changes in response to health-care directives include the closure of restrooms and preserve areas receiving high use, such as Windy Hill Pre-serve, Rancho San Antonio County Park and Preserve and the Mount Umunhum area of Si-erra Zul Preserve. Group gathering areas in the

preserves are closed, including Deer Hollow Farm at Rancho San Antonio, Daniels Nature Center, the Black Mountain backpack camp and the Picchetti Winery and picnic area. For more information, visit openspace.org.

La Comida offers seniors to-go lunches The Palo Alto-based La Comida’s senior lunch program is now serving boxed to-go lunches out of its two locations. The program is also open to se-niors in Los Altos and Mountain View. La Comida is preparing 140-160 boxed lunches weekdays for seniors to pick up at either of its two locations: Stevenson House at 455 E. Charleston Road or the Masonic Center at 461 Florence St. across from the Apple Store in downtown Palo Alto. During the shelter-in-place period, La Comida urges rela-tives and friends of seniors to register and pick up the boxed lunch for them. Hours are weekdays 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Steven-son location and 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Masonic loca-tion. The nonprofit organization suggests a $3 donation per meal from adults over 60 years old and $8 from those under 60. Patrons can register at either La Comida location by filling out a one-page form and providing proof of age. For more information, visit lacomida.org.

City of Los Altos looks to boost morale with bevy of online optionsTown Crier Report

The city of Los Altos not only continues to provide essential services during the coro-navirus crisis, officials also are looking to

boost morale. City officials designed a webpage with the aim of serving as a clearinghouse for a variety of positive-thinking campaigns. The site is available at losaltosca.gov/citymanager/page/community-morale. “There are many different campaigns, such as Kindness Rocks, that we will be promoting in the near future, and we will be using this page and others to promote these campaigns,” said city rep-resentative Trevor Marsden. City officials also plan to address the “cabin fever” problem afflicting residents sheltering in place by offering an online page with a wide range

of activities. The page includes educational, enter-tainment and fitness-oriented options. Educational activities include renting e-books using the Santa Clara County Online Library and accessing the material available on the Khan Academy website. Entertainment suggestions include access to live cams at the San Diego Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium, along with virtual tours of various mu-seums. For fitness, the city site features several links to routines on YouTube. It also lists a variety of open-space options in and around Los Altos where residents can go to exercise and catch some fresh air. For more information, visit losaltosca.gov/citymanager/page/fun-activities-keep-you-busy-during-covid-19-shelter-place.

BRIEFSFrom Page 9

April’s Los Altos First Friday canceled

But event carries on – in a virtual way

Town Crier Report

In support of keeping the community safe, and in compliance with orders

from the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department and the city of Los Altos, First Fri-day – scheduled Friday eve-ning – has been canceled. According to event organiz-ers, the monthly events will re-turn downtown as soon as it is safe to continue them. To promote positive mental health and physical well-being among local residents, First Friday organizers have sched-

uled a Virtual First Friday this week, encouraging people to take a music or dance break 6-8 p.m. Friday and post videos and photos on the First Friday Facebook page at facebook.com/losaltosfirstfriday. First Friday is a monthly promotional event sponsored by the nonprofit Los Altos For-ward, a program of Los Altos Community Foundation. Los Altos Forward is a volunteer group dedicated to promoting vibrancy in downtown Los Al-tos. First Fridays are designed to provide fun, social and community-building evenings for local residents. For more information, vis-it losaltosfirstfriday.org.

Public hearing notice

Adoption of Modified and New Groundwater Benefit Zones

Topic: Adoption of Modified and New Groundwater Benefit Zones

Who: Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)

Public hearing to consider adopting modified groundwater benefit zones W-2 and W-5, and new zones W-7 and W-8

What:

Valley Water Board Room 5700 Almaden Expressway, San José, CA 95118

Where:

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.When:

Valley Water invites you to a meeting regarding adoption of modified groundwater benefit zones W-2 and W-5, and new zones W-7 and W-8. Groundwater benefit zones are geographic areas benefitting from a similar set of Valley Water activities. All operators of water-producing facilities (well users) within these zones are subject to Valley Water groundwater production charges.

Groundwater charges collected from these zones fund Valley Water activities to protect and augment groundwater supplies. The charges for each zone are based on the specific projects that benefit the zone. Activities funded by these charges include groundwater replenishment, the provision of alternative water supplies, water conservation, and groundwater protection programs.

Well users within the groundwater benefit zones or any person interested in Valley Water’s activities to protect and augment groundwater supplies may appear, in person or by representative, and submit comments regarding the subject. For more information about this meeting or this project, contact George Cook, Senior Water Resources Specialist at (408) 630-2964.

Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate persons with disabilities wishing to attend this public hearing. For additional information on attending this hearing including requesting accommodations for disabilities or interpreter assistance, please contact the Office of the Clerk of the Board at (408) 630-2277, at least three days prior to the hearing.

Se realizarán esfuerzos a fin de brindar todas las facilidades posibles a las personas con discapacidades que desean asistir a esta reunión pública. Para información adicional sobre como asistir a esta audiencia incluyendo peticiones para acomodar a discapacitados o asistencia con intérpretes, por favor comuníquese con Paola Giles al (408) 630-2880, por lo menos tres días antes de la audiencia.

Mọi nỗ lực sẽ được thực hiện hầu giúp những người khuyết tật muốn tham dự buổi điều trần này. Để biết thêm chi tiết về việc tham dự buổi điều trần kể cả yêu cầu giúp đỡ người khuyết tật hay cần thông dịch viên, quý vị có thể liên lạc Hoan Cutler tại số (408) 630-3135, ít nhất ba ngày trước buổi điều trần.

3/2020 KCvalleywater.org | Clean Water • Healthy Environment • Flood Protection


Easter Coloring Contest Deadline Mon. April 6th

Name Age

Address

City/Zip Phone

To enter: Return completed entries to the Los Altos Town Crier by Monday, April 6th. One entry per person. The decision of the judges will be final.

You can mail your entries to: Los Altos Town Crier, 138 Main Street, Los Altos, CA 94022

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Los

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Los Altos Town Crier Coloring Contest

PRIZES will be awarded to each age group (Ages 4-6) (Ages 7-10)

All Prizes Donated by Los Altos Baskin-Robbins

1st - 1/3 Sheet Cake 2nd - 6 Kids Cones 3rd - Banana Split

All winners will also have their pictures in the Los Altos Town Crier

and The entries will be displayed at the Baskin-Robbins in Los Altos

April 1, 2020 / Los Altos Town Crier / Page 15

SchoolsBy Renee RemsbergTown Crier Editorial Intern

Now that the County of San-ta Clara Public Health De-partment and the county’s

Office of Education declared that public schools will remain closed through at least May 1, most local students will take online courses for more than a month. As a result of the disruptions to everyday life, concerns have been raised about how they will impact students’ mental health. For many, the school clo-sures came as a surprise. After the Mountain View Los Altos

Union High School District Board of Trustees and then the county elected to close schools, operational decisions were being made “hour to hour, day to day,” according to William Blair, the district’s wellness coordinator. “Everyone right now is still in a state of shock,” Blair said. “We’re in completely unprec-edented, uncharted territory.” The board decided March 13 to close the district’s high schools for two weeks, and the county an-nounced a similar decision later that day (the order was extended last week). Schools shut down by day’s end, giving students little

time to process what happened. “This hit me really fast,” said Tara Sabet, a junior at Mountain View High School, of the closure that coincided with the shutdown of many universities and col-leges. “I’m seeing all my friends coming home from college and they’re all just bummed out.” Blair said the district isn’t bracing for one specific challenge students will face from the clo-sures; rather, the focus is on ad-dressing issues as they come up. For example, a March 23 district update from Superintendent Nel-lie Meyer states that the greatest

MVLA aims to support student mental health during closure


With schools closed be-cause of the corona-virus pandemic, local

districts are working together to continue providing meals for students who might not other-wise have access to nutritious food. Three local school districts – the Mountain View Whis-man School District, Los Altos School District and Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District – have teamed up to provide free breakfast and lunch each weekday. Staff at Mountain View Whisman are preparing the meals for all three districts. The bags include a lunch, plus break-fast for the next day. “It’s going to be distracting to be doing schoolwork from home. Let’s take one of those burdens off and make sure they still have food access,” said Steve Taglio, a member of the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees. Taglio was at Klein Park Fri-day, distributing meals to chil-dren and parents who stopped by. Dulce Hautreux visited with her son, who is in kindergarten. Hautreux said it’s a relief that the district is continuing to pro-vide meals, especially given how many people are out of work. Although she still has her job at Safeway, her husband was laid off from his job at a restaurant. “I’m glad that they can be here for us,” Hautreux said.

Approximately 200 students in the Los Altos School District receive free or reduced-price lunch when school is in session, Superintendent Jeff Baier said. The district is now distributing meals at both Klein Park and Egan Junior High School. “We have a not insignificant number of kids in our school district who rely upon us for a solid meal every day,” Baier said. “In this time where there is greater uncertainty, perhaps par-ents losing jobs, … it becomes even more vital.” Around 80-90 breakfasts and lunches are being handed out at Klein Park each day, Taglio es-timated, with another 40 or so distributed at Egan. Those num-bers have been increasing over time, as more families learn about the program. At a distribution site at Gabri-el Mistral Elementary School, Mountain View Whisman is serving approximately 1,000 breakfasts and 1,000 lunches each day to students from both Mountain View Whisman and MVLA. Some days they use up all the meals and prepare more, said Debbie Austin, Mountain View Whisman’s director of food and nutrition services. “We have a lot of families in Mountain View that live on the edge and they have to make a choice between paying their rent or providing food for the chil-dren,” she said. “And children need their food – they can’t learn without it, and they become ill without proper nutrition.” All three districts are provid-

ing meals for anyone under age 18. No ID is required.

Safety measures In light of the coronavirus pandemic, staff are taking pre-cautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Staff are all check-ing their temperatures as they enter the kitchen, Austin said, and wearing masks and gloves as they prepare the food. The kitchen is also being thoroughly sanitized every day. Similarly, Baier said Los Al-tos School District staff are tak-ing their temperatures each day and wearing gloves before dis-tributing meals. At Gabriel Mistral a drive- thru set up is being used, with

staff putting meals in the trunks of people’s cars. For those who walk up, they are being instructed to stand 6 feet apart, Austin said. Over at Klein Park, a table is set up to distribute meals. According to Baier, if a queue starts to form, people are told to keep appropriate distance be-tween one another. Some fami-lies also drive up and stop at the curb to pick up meals. Baier said he’s happy the school districts can continue to provide meals for students, es-pecially during a time of uncer-tainty. “It’s a nice, rare human inter-action that we’re having with our families right now, in person,” he said.

Local districts partner to distribute free meals


It’s going to be a while before local students head back to the classroom, with the

announcement last week that public schools throughout the Bay Area will remain closed through at least May 1. Seven Bay Area county health officers, in collaboration with their six county superintendents of schools, jointly extended school closures through May 1 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Previously, schools were set to be closed only through Fri-day. Some local school districts, including the Los Altos School District and Mountain View Los Altos Union High School Dis-trict, had spring break scheduled Monday through April 10 and had planned to reopen April 13. Now, they won’t reopen until at least May 4. “I don’t know if we expected it, but it surely isn’t surprising ei-ther, just watching what’s going on in the world,” LASD Super-intendent Jeff Baier said of the closure being extended. Los Altos School District teachers are providing remote instruction to students during the closure, and Baier said the district is prepared for that to continue. “We actually feel like we are in a pretty good place,” Baier said. “We will need to make adjust-ments along the way and course

School closures extended


Los Altos High School sits empty as schools remain closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.


Los Altos School District registrar Bridget Stolorz distributes free meals at Klein Park.

See WELLNESS, Page 17

See CLOSURE, Page 16


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Schools

By Marie GodderisTown Crier Editorial Intern

While some students sleep in during the school closures, Greg

Corn and Kayleen Gowers are out of the house by 7 a.m. That’s when the two Los Altos High School seniors go shopping – but not for themselves. Corn and Gowers pick up groceries for local residents who have been advised to stay home as much as possible because of a higher risk of complications if they contract the coronavirus. And unlike services like Amazon Fresh and Instacart, the two stu-dents don’t charge for delivery. The rising demand for grocery delivery during the state’s shelter-in-place order led Corn and Gow-ers to provide the service. “The idea came from empa-thizing with those who literally cannot leave their homes,” Gow-ers said. “I was putting myself in their shoes and imagining

how scared and alone some of them may be feeling in a time like this. That’s when the idea of grocery runs came up.” They first posted a message on the social networking service Nextdoor March 16 and said they received more than 50 responses that day. The next day, they start-ed shopping and now make four to five deliveries per day. They said ordering is simple: People fill out a form online that asks for their name and phone number, which items they want and from which stores, and where they would like the gro-ceries delivered. Corn and Gow-ers connect with them to con-firm the orders and drop off the items the next day.

Satisfied customers “An unexpected situation has resulted in my working with them three times, and I couldn’t be more pleased,” Los Altos resident Lucie Newcomb said. “They’re speedy, reliable and

trustworthy; they go out of their way to make things easy with consistent, polite yet friendly communication.” Count Los Altos resident Linda Gold, who read about the service on Nextdoor, as another satisfied customer. “I made out a short shopping list and submitted it to them,” she said. “The very next morn-ing, I think about 9 a.m., they texted and said all my grocer-ies were sitting outside my front door. I couldn’t believe it. They delivered to a complete stranger and didn’t even get paid.” People pay them for the gro-ceries with cash or check, or digitally through services such as PayPal and Venmo. The stu-dents do accept tips, which they said will be donated to One Fair Wage, an emergency fund orga-nization that provides cash assis-tance to workers whose jobs are compromised due to the corona-virus outbreak. Corn and Gowers said they are aware of the potential health threat caused by deliveries. From their homes to stores, touching many things along the way and dropping off the groceries, there are many ways in which the vi-rus could be transmitted. “We’re not in the at-risk pop-ulation, so we’re not so much worried about ourselves,” Corn said. “Our biggest worry is giv-ing the virus accidentally to the senior citizens. In order to re-duce that risk, we’re taking as many precautions as we can to sanitize and make sure we’re delivering them as clean as pos-sible. But there’s always a risk.” To minimize the risk, the teens said they are diligent in keeping clean and use hand sanitizer every time they enter and exit the store and drop off

the groceries. All drop-offs are noncontact; the person receives a text when the groceries arrive. “Sure, there’s a risk with us touching their groceries, but somebody is going to have to do it,” Corn said. “We want to make sure we’re helping them out as much as possible. It’s better than them leaving the house, so it’s all about minimizing risk.” Gold appreciates their efforts. “This is a vital service to some of us that are compro-mised,” Gold said. “My hus-band and I are seniors and I get bronchial asthma every year. So, right now, Greg and Kayleen are a lifeline to us. Even their upbeat, positive attitude while

texting is like a ray of sunshine.” Those are the kind of compli-ments that can’t help but make the students smile at a time when many people are on edge due to the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s more than just delivering groceries – robots could do that,” Gowers said of their service. “It’s about the human connection and letting people know that we do care about them. Our commu-nity is here for them. If we can touch someone’s heart, it makes it all the more worthwhile.” To use the service, visit bit.ly/39lgOcx. For more information, call 383-7251 or email [email protected].

LAHS students make grocery runs for at-risk neighbors

correct, but in terms of the struc-ture we have set up, we think we’re headed in the right direction.” In a press release, Santa

Clara County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan said the well-being of students, fami-lies and communities is the pri-mary concern. “We will continue to take all necessary steps to prepare

schools for reopening,” Dewan said. “Meanwhile, it is absolute-ly crucial that we work together to slow the spread of COVID-19, by adhering to the shelter-in-place orders and continuing to support learning at home.”

Town Crier Staff Report

The long-standing Los Al-tos School District Junior Olympics has been can-

celed because of the coronavirus. This year would have been the 60th anniversary of the

inter-school track meet. Fourth- through sixth-graders from all seven district elementary schools compete against each other in events including basketball free throws, chin-ups and hurdles. The event was scheduled April 25 at Los Altos High

School, but schools aren’t slated to open until at least May 4. Ac-cording to Gaynor Ferrari, one of the organizers, the timing just wasn’t going to work. “We’re really sad that it’s been canceled, especially be-cause it’s the 60th,” Ferrari said.

COURTESY OF GREG CORN

Los Altos High School seniors Greg Corn and Kayleen Gowers have been picking up groceries for at-risk local residents.

COVID-19 prompts Junior Olympics cancellation

CLOSUREFrom


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Schools

need that has come up for stu-dents is housing, rather than in-ternet use or other mental health needs. However, Blair antici-pates that in the coming months there will be a greater mental health need due to ongoing iso- lation. To prepare and to accom-modate students who are using onsite services, MVLA worked with local organizations such as the Community Health Aware-ness Council and the Children’s Health Council. Like other dis-tricts in the area, MVLA will be moving service online via Tele-Health, a mental health provid-er. While previous restrictions would have prevented schools from working with the private health service, recent relaxations of regulations by the county have allowed for school partnerships. Blair said he was most im-pressed by the ability of all the groups – schools, health provid-ers, community organizations and more – to come together and adjust to policy changes in a short period of time. “One of the things that’s really come out of (the) COVID-19 crisis is there’s been a lot of interagency collabora-tion,” he said. “It kind of brought us all together in an organized, collaborative way that we maybe haven’t had the time to do. That feels really good.”

Student reactions Many students are wor-ried about their academics or how closure will impact school

events. While Mountain View High senior Anya McClatchie enjoys how her classes more closely resemble college courses she will be taking in the fall, she worries the lack of in-person student-teacher interaction will hinder her learning. “I’m really stressed about be-ing able to get everything done,” she said. “For some classes, I need a lot more support than others, and I’m worried that I’m not going to get that.” McClatchie also expressed dismay over the prospect of can-cellation of events such as prom, graduation and Advanced Place-ment tests. This has concerned many other students as well, in-cluding Gunn High School senior Abigail Sullivan, who spoke to the difficulty of waiting four years just for events to be canceled. “I know that a lot of my friends are having a hard time,” Sullivan said. “A lot of them need the structure and social interaction that school provides, and their mental health is strug-gling as a result.” Blair said he worries about the lack of a reflection period for students given the “tumultuous” nature of transitioning from high school to college. “For long-term closure, I worry about the seniors gradu-ating and the kids living day to day,” he said. All, however, acknowledge the benefits of a short-term closure. “It is worth it in the long run, though,” Sullivan said. “We all know that we’re helping keep our community safe and healthy, and it’s nice to be able to do our part.” For students struggling with

their mental health during this time period, UNICEF suggests recognizing that anxiety is nor-mal, making sure to stay con-nected with friends and creating distractions. Additionally, Blair urged that as issues arise, stu-dents should still reach out to the school for support, even if it isn’t necessarily immediately related. “We are here for students. Our goal is to support students and our families to the best of our capability. If we don’t have the resources on-hand, we are able to connect them,” he said. “We want students and families to see the school as still a major component in their life and ma-jor source of support.”

Adjusting to realities The extension of the school closures shows the uncertainty over when the pandemic will sub-side, and Blair wondered whether schools would reopen before the end of the academic year. Many students aware of the possibility are attempting to ad-just by focusing on the “silver lining,” as Mountain View High junior Ava Hinz described it. “Since everything is getting canceled, it’s allowing me to find more hobbies and spend more time with my family,” she said. That is something Sabet has done as well, though she ac-knowledged it as a privilege. “There’s things I can do to

keep myself busy, but not ev-eryone else has that luxury,” she said. “I also don’t have a job that I depend on, and my parents are fortunate enough to work from home, but not everyone has that opportunity.” Sabet added that she was frustrated about not being able to help in person those who don’t have the same opportunities she has. Instead, with help from her parents and a friend, she chan-neled her energy into creating a list of organizations people could donate to that would give back to those most impacted by the pandemic. “The only thing we can really do is donate,” she said.

WELLNESSFrom Page 15


SF graduate Ellison retires from NFL After an eight-year ca-reer in the NFL, St. Francis High graduate Rhett Ellison (Class of 2007) announced last month that he is retiring from pro football. The tight end played his first five sea-sons with the Minnesota Vi-kings, who drafted him out of USC in 2012, and the last three with the New York Gi-ants. Ellison caught 118 pass-es for 1,189 yards and seven touchdowns in his career.

MV Sports Boosters host golf tourney The Mountain View High School Sports Boosters 2020 Golf Tournament is slated April 18 at Shoreline Golf Links. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the shotgun start is set for noon. MVHS families, friends and students are welcome to participate in the third-annual tourney, which uses a best-ball for-mat. Registration is $150 for adults and $100 for students; cost includes lunch and a happy-hour event. Proceeds benefit the school’s athletic department. To register and for more information, visit mvhssportsboosters.org.

Adult softball league welcomes players The Vintage Softball Club of Santa Clara County, a slow-pitch league for men and women age 50 and over that includes Los Altos residents, seeks new members for 2020. Founded in 1987, the club of-fers year-round Saturday and weekday leagues – along with Monday nights in spring/summer – open to all skill levels. A bat and glove are required. The annual mem-bership fee is $50-$100. To register and for more infor-mation, email [email protected] or visit vintag-esoftball.org.

Local high schools seek coaches Los Altos High seeks head coaches for three of its teams: varsity boys golf

By Marie GodderisTown Crier Editorial Intern

As a toddler, Riley Fu-jioka said she enjoyed tumbling but wasn’t

very coordinated when it came to playing sports that involved a ball. The Los Altos native spent several years as a gymnast be-fore finding her ideal athletic endeavor – diving. After four years as Los Altos High’s top diver, Fujioka earned a scholarship to Georgetown University, where she’s excelling as well. The junior was named the Big East Conference’s Most Outstanding Women’s Diver this year. She won the 1- and 3-meter diving events at the conference swimming and diving champi-onships held Feb. 26-29 at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in New York. Fujioka also holds the school records in both events. She set the 3-meter record her fresh-man year, surpassing that score at this year’s conference cham-pionships, and established a new 1-meter record last year. None of it has come easy, but Fujioka is glad she persevered.

“Sticking with a sport for so long I think is really hard, and just learning to love it and hate it at the same time,” said the 2017 Los Altos High grad. “There are going to be hard times, but lean on your teammates and your coaches and stick it out because you’ve been training most of your life and college will prob-ably be the last time you’re go-ing to do your sport, so really enjoy it.” Fujioka, who is studying an-thropology and sociology at Georgetown, has been diving since age 6. She started two years after taking up gymnas-tics and competed in both sports until middle school. As she ad-vanced levels in gymnastics, the sport took more of a physical toll on Fujioka; she said the injuries led her to focus solely on diving. She went from diving in the summer at Palo Alto Hills Country Club to training year-round with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics. That experience paid off once she got to Los Altos High. Fujioka was able to help coach her teammates – which she said gave her a different perspective

than when she was on the plat-form – and was named team captain. “Diving is a very social sport, and I love it because you get teammates and competitors and everyone boosts you up and wants you to do well because we all know how hard both men-tally and physically the sport is,” she said.

The mental side is most de-manding, she added. “The hardest part is your mentality toward it,” Fujioka said. “I used to get really shy and I didn’t like to perform in front of people, so competing was always difficult for me. It was hard to get over it, but compet-ing really teaches you discipline

By Pete BorelloStaff Writer/[email protected]

For high school athletes in spring sports, the season is fading fast. Three weeks of play have already been wiped out

due to the coronavirus, and most schools aren’t expected to reopen until at least May. While some local athletes have come to grips with the prospect that the season won’t continue, others remain hopeful they will compete again this year. “As a spring student-athlete, all you can do is try to stay in shape while staying at home and hope that the season will start up again soon,” Los Altos High baseball player Brock Susko said. But staying in shape can be more challeng-ing without coaches and teammates present. “It’s a weird place to be mentally and phys-ically, meaning that with athletes in general, they are very team-oriented,” Mountain View High swimmer Lexi Rudolph said, “so it gets hard when you take away the team aspect and are forced to train by yourself.” Add a degree of difficulty for swimmers like Rudolph, who need to be in the water to

practice their sport. “With all the pools and gyms in my area being closed, it has become a lot harder to get a good workout in,” the senior said. “I’ve resorted to disappearing for hours and riding my bike all throughout Mountain View and Los Altos to get the cardio aspect, as I’m not a

huge fan of running.” For Los Altos baseball player Matt Leong, running has become a major component of his new training regimen. “As you know, it is pretty tough to get a good, full workout in since all the gyms and fields are closed,” he said, “but I’ve been try-ing to build an abbreviated workout schedule every week starting with going on a 2-3 mile run every other day.” Isabella Walker, a hurdler on the Mountain View track team, has created a workout rou-tine as well. As a year-round soccer player, the sophomore has two sports to train for. “On my own, I’m running outside and do-ing a bunch of at-home exercises with the ball and working with my core by doing workouts that focus in on that area,” Walker said. Some athletes have an advantage, though: siblings at home to train with. That includes Los Altos baseball player Jamie Baum, whose older brother Ryan pitched for the Eagles last year and now plays for the College of San Ma-teo. “During this time, I have been able to prac-tice baseball and basketball a lot because of

High school athletes try to stay ready in case spring sports resume

COURTESY OF VICTORIA FUJIOKA

Georgetown junior Riley Fujioka competes in this year’s Big East Conference swimming and diving championships. The Los Altos High graduate won the 1- and 3-meter diving events.

Making a splashLA grad Fujioka sets Georgetown records, crowned conference’s best women’s diver

TOWN CRIER FILE PHOTO

Los Altos High junior Brock Susko takes a swing March 12 against Leland, the Eagles’ last game before school closed.

See SPRING, Page 19See SIDE, Page 19

SportsSports on the Side

See DIVER, Page 19


Sports

and junior varsity gymnastics, both spring sports, and varsity girls golf, a fall sport. To apply and for more information, con-tact athletic director Michelle Noeth at 618-9334 or michelle. [email protected]. Mountain View High seeks a head coach for JV girls volleyball, a fall sport. To apply and for more information, contact athletic director Shelley Smith at 618-9325 or [email protected].

SIDEFrom

the extra time I have,” said the junior, a pitcher who is also the starting point guard on the Los Altos girls basketball team. “I’ve been throwing with my brother to keep my arm in shape and main-taining a workout routine. I have also used this time to work on my shot for basketball, and I think it is very important to stay pro-ductive with my time during this break.” Susko has multiple siblings at the house who are athletes. “Personally, I have siblings that I can play with, so I always try to play catch with them to keep my arm in shape, as well as do any workout I can,” the junior said. If the remainder of the season gets canceled, Susko will at least have one more year to play for the Eagles. He feels for those who don’t.

“I think the situation is very unfortunate, especially for the se-niors who have worked so hard to make their senior seasons the best they could be,” he said. Teammate Leong is disheart-ened that this year’s Eagles – off to a promising 5-2 start – may never get to realize their potential. “As for the likelihood that my season won’t continue, it is sad,” he said. “I felt like the team was doing really well and had we not been shut down, we would’ve started our first league games, which is what the entire team was looking forward to. I do feel for the seniors on the team, though, knowing that they could’ve just played their last high school game.” Baum appreciates getting an-other swing at it next season. “It has been tough not being able to play with my team and losing the better part of a sea-son,” she said, “but I still have another season to look forward to

next year.” So does Walker, who does not expect to be back on the track this year. “I’m really bummed that my track season will not be happen-ing, since I was really excited to compete,” said the sophomore, whose previous season was cut short by an injury. As for the seniors, some will continue their sports careers at the next level – such as Rudolph, bound for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Yet that doesn’t make this shortened sea-son any easier to swallow. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to play a fall sport this year (water polo), like I have the past three years of my high school career, so swim season was pretty much it for me,” she said. “The things I’m most upset about are that I can’t see/train with my team, and I likely can’t compete in CCS or states because they might be can-celed.”

and how to present yourself, so I’m glad I stuck with it. It is very easy to get scared and nervous, but I think just trusting yourself and trusting your training will get you really far.” That trust helped her land a scholarship to Georgetown, one of several schools that recruited her. While she was excited to join the team, it took Fujioka time to acclimate. “When I first got to college, everyone was at a pretty elite level, and I came in as not one of the best on the team,” she said, “and I think that pushed me to want to be better, because no one kind of wants to be at the bottom of their team. I was motivated to help my team earn points, which really pushed me to do better.” As an NCAA Division I ath-lete, Fujioka has a rigorous train-ing and competing schedule.

The season runs August through February, and she trains six days a week – in and out of the pool. “Like with any sport, it teaches you a lot of discipline and time management,” Fujioka said. “It was really hard when I first got started, but once you get in your routine, I feel like it’s normal and that’s all you know, which is nice.”

DIVERFrom Page 18

SPRINGFrom Page 18

COURTESY OF VICTORIA FUJIOKA

Riley Fujioka, left, accepts her diving award from Big East commissioner Val Ackerman.


On the RoadBy Mike Hagerty

Love is what makes a Subaru a Suba-ru, it appears. The love owners have for the pio-

neering crossover has earned it the IHS Markit (formerly Polk Automotive) Loyalty Award in its vehicle class – mid-size cross-over utility vehicle – for the fourth year in a row. And return customers will find a vastly improved Outback for 2020. They (and we) would have told you there wasn’t anything wrong with the 2019 Outback, but Subaru found ways to improve it. The 2020 Outback Touring XT is pow-ered by a new 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine with 260 horsepower. Mated to a high-torque Lineartronic Continuously Vari-able Transmission, it gets an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 23 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. That figure is helped by standard automatic stop/start. The old Outback’s 3.5-liter V6 only managed 256 horsepower, 20 mpg city and 27 highway. Maximum cargo volume is up 2.4 cu-bic feet over last year’s model, and there’s an extra inch of interior room between the rear wheel wells. And it’s not just room for stuff. There’s an extra cubic foot of passen-ger space volume, as well. The base price for the base model 2020 Subaru Outback is $26,645. As always with

Subaru, that includes all-wheel drive. You also get a suite of safety features including Subaru’s EyeSight – which can detect when your eyes leave the road – adaptive cruise control with lane centering and automatic climate control. The model we tested is the top-of-the-line Outback Touring XT. The base price takes a big leap – to $39,695 – but the list of stan-dard features grows exponentially, including navigation with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, an

By Matt Pataky

Let me start by thanking all my customers and readers. Because we are

an essential business, we are fortunate enough to remain open during these trying times, and I’ve enjoyed engaging with customers who have come into the shop these past few weeks. With so much happening all around us these days, it was dif-ficult for me to think about what to write this month. This crisis has made me modify the way I operate my small business and forces us to evolve daily. I want to share an interesting problem I ran into last week. We had customers bring in their 2001 BMW 530I. The custom-ers brought the car in for normal service but also told me that they were intermittently hearing a whining noise. After checking the car, we found that the power-steering fluid reservoir and the two hoses going to the reservoir were leaking. If the power steer-

ing fluid gets too low in the res-ervoir, it will start to pull in air and not fluid. If it does that, the power-steering pump will aerate and make a whining sound. But in this case, we could not hear the whining noise, even when the fluid was low. We kept the car overnight so that I could listen for that sound when it was dead-cold in the morning and listen to the front belt idlers and tensioners before they warmed up. Once the belt idler pulley or tensioner pulleys get warm, they usually don’t make a sound; when they are dead-cold, they will.

Diagnosing the problem The next morning, we finished the maintenance and were ready to start the engine. That’s when we immediately heard a whining sound from the front of the engine. We used the stethoscope and heard the accessory belt tensioner pulley, the accessory belt idler pulley and the alternator bearing mak-

ing noise. While it’s common for BMW belt idler pulleys and tensioner pulleys to make noise as they age, it’s rare for the alternator to do so. We removed the belts and checked the pulleys and alterna-tor bearing. We discovered that both belt pulleys were sticking and making noise, but the alter-nator bearing also was sticking and making noise. On further examination, we found that the inside of the alternator had be-come overheated and burnt. We then checked all the connec-tions to the alternator and found that the main power cable that leads back to the battery was cracked – almost all the way through – at the connector. Because the main battery ca-ble at the alternator post was so broken, it caused a significant voltage drop in that cable. The alternator was working over-

time and overheating because of the nearly fully broken connec-tor. Because the idler pulley and tensioner pulley are clustered around the alternator, the heat from the alternator sped up the demise of the two belt pulleys. After repairing the cable connector and replacing the alternator, the idler pulley and tensioner pulley, all was well. It’s not like I have not seen a bad accessory belt tensioner pulley or idler pulley on a BMW, but I had never seen them go bad because of an over-heating alternator. Matt

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By Chris Hoeber

The recent disruptions to our lives can be counter-balanced by quality time

outdoors in an environment that is nearly free of smog and cars. I have met many of my neighbors – from a safe distance – while out on my bicycle or walking with or without our daughter’s two dogs. It is great to see families out enjoying each other’s company, often without cellphones glued to them. We are lucky to live in an area with lots of options, so we don’t have to squeeze into crowded paths.

Rules for walking in the road It is clear that either most of us don’t know the rules for walking in the road or don’t think it is important to follow them. With the reduction in motor traffic, it is probably not a big safety problem in many places. However, it might be if pedestrian and/or motor traffic were to pick up, so let me replay something from an earlier col-umn: In general, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic. The California Vehicle Code requires us to do so on roads “outside of a business or resi-dential district” (and it includes a somewhat technical definition of “business and residential”), but there is no reason not to do so consistently on most roads. In my neighborhood, it seems about half of us choose the right and half the left; I have seen two other pedestrians in the past week who knew to change sides when they changed directions. People walking equally on both sides of the road maxi-mizes how often you encounter others going the opposite way. My rule of thumb is that if the other person has their nose in their phone, it is best to assume they don’t see you and you should change course to main-tain social distance. If you’re walking a dog,

A love for the Outback

PHOTOS BY MIKE HAGERTY/SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

The 2020 Subaru Outback has several im-provements over last year’s model, includ-ing a new engine and more cargo space.

Subaru’s star crossover still a hit with buyers

Overworked alternator gives BMW something to whine about

Matt the Mechanic

See OUTBACK, Page 21

Getting outside for a ride/walk as we shelter

See SHARE, Page 21

Sharethe Road

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On the Road

it’s unwise to approach an unknown dog head-on – you never know how they are go-ing to react to one another. As I plead with you to walk on the left, I admit there are some perfectly valid reasons not to at times: blind corner ahead, blind curve ahead, difficulty in crossing the street, and sidewalks and paths that start and stop on opposite sides of the road for no apparent reason (like in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills). Whatever you do, give a cheerful hello or smile to those you meet, and respect other’s social distancing.

Beware of overpass In the summer of 2018, both the eastbound and west-bound lanes on the Sand Hill Road bridge over Interstate 280 were restriped, with the intent of increasing the safety of cyclists traveling between Menlo Park and Woodside/Portola Valley. Green lanes were created to alert driv-

ers entering and leaving 280 to the presence of bicycles, and I believe that they are a significant improvement over what was there before. The restriping was the cul-mination of a concerted effort between different jurisdic-tions and bicycle safety ad-vocates. But for some strange reason, the westbound and eastbound lanes are striped differently. Westbound, cyclists travel between a through lane and a lane that can be used to enter from 280 northbound or to exit to 280 southbound. The two motor vehicle lanes are separated from the green bike lanes by dashed white lines. Eastbound, cyclists travel between a through lane and a lane for entering from 280 southbound or exiting to 280 northbound. The white lines delineating the green lane are solid except for a short dashed section where people can merge into the through lane or exit to 280. When I first saw the new markings, I thought it must be an experiment to determine which paint scheme worked

better. After several dozen trips in both directions, it is obvious to me that the dashed lines work better. Since the restriping, I have never encountered a discourteous westbound driver, and driv-ers can pick the best time to change lanes – either behind me or a safe distance in front of me. But eastbound, drivers are supposed to wait to change lanes until the very last min-ute, and then there are three lanes of traffic crossing each other: drivers merging from the right, drivers exiting from the left and cyclists simply trying to go straight. This is not possible if traffic is con-gested, or even if three people just happen to converge at the same time. I reached the San Mateo County project manager in charge of the restriping, and he told me that Caltrans dictated how the road was striped. I contacted Caltrans for an explanation; no one has responded. Note that per the Califor-nia Vehicle Code, it is not illegal to cross a solid white

line, but the intent of the striping is certainly to tell you not to do that, and various anecdotal stories that I have found on the internet describe different interpretations of the law that have been applied in various places. My observation has been that eastbound drivers also have been courteous, duti-fully waiting until the dashed lines (and they are sometimes unnecessarily inconvenienced for doing so). But if traffic is heavy, they will not be able to see there is a cyclist about to occupy the spot they’d like to occupy, creating the need for split-second decisions. I’d like to ask any cyclist and/or motorist who has experience with this overpass and opinions on the subject to let me know their thoughts and would love to hear counterarguments, but I think that the eastbound striping is setting up a serious accident someday. Chris Hoeber is a local resi-dent, avid cyclist and founder of a cycling club. Email ques-tions and comments to chris@ cfhengineering.com.

SHAREFrom

upgraded audio system with Apple Car-Play and Android Auto, ventilated front seats, upgraded 18-inch alloy wheels, Nappa leather upholstery, enhanced elec-tronic safety features and much more. Add $1,010 destination and delivery charge and the bottom line on the window sticker reads $40,705. Yes, that’s a heady figure for a Subaru (and this is from a guy whose first review of an Outback asked if we might someday see – gasp! – a $30,000 Outback). But it’s a solid vehicle, packed with features, and it comes with the best review of all – re-peat buyers. If you’re looking for a mid-size cross-over, and especially if all-wheel drive is a priority, the 2020 Subaru Outback is a stellar choice. Mike Hagerty,

who has been writ-ing about cars since

1997, is vice presi-dent of membership

for Western Automo-tive Journalists (waj.

org). Read more of his reviews on his website (tirekicker.

blogspot.com) and follow him on Twit-ter (twitter.com/mikehagertycars) and

Facebook (facebook.com/mikehagerty-writesaboutcars).

OUTBACKFrom Page 20

Town Crier welcomes On the Road feedbackThe Town Crier welcomes feedback and suggestions from readers about the On the Road section, which appears in the first issue of every month. If you have an idea for On the Road or would like to com-ment on its content, contact section editor Pete Borello via email at [email protected]. Please write “OTR” in the subject line.


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Business & Real Estate


Los Altos chiropractor Gregory Dabb’s passion for his patients and prac-

tice at Better Life Chiropractic Center left him believing he had found his true calling. And then he met Cory Schwaderer.

Schwaderer, a patient of Dabb’s, had undiagnosed Lyme disease that metastasized into spinal meningitis. He had been in the hospital for weeks at a time and was going to the hospital for immunotherapy daily when a doctor told him about cannabidiol (CBD) products. Schwaderer’s doctor said research showed that CBD could help his pain. It did – and at a time when CBD products weren’t widely available, largely because people weren’t educated on the ingredients in CBD, which contains no TCH, the psychoac-tive component in cannabis. “I was put on a lot of heavy-duty medication – I’m sure a lot of people are right now espe-cially with the opiate crisis. … People are (being) heavily pre-scribed medication for pain,” Schwaderer said. “I was going through a lot of pain, but the pills and my system just aren’t cohe-sive. I needed something else.” Although Schwaderer was skeptical of chiropractic treat-ment, he made an appointment with Dabb at his brother’s urg-ing. Schwaderer was already us-ing CBD for pain management when he first entered Better Life Chiropractic Center with a cane

at 26 years old. “I was pretty upset at life in general,” Schwaderer recalled. “(Dabb) laughed at me when I met him and told me, ‘You’ll be off that cane when you leave the office today.’ I didn’t take it very well.” Schwaderer did walk out without assistance, and he and Dabb forged a friendship.

Organic pain relief Using CBD products changed his life, so Schwaderer approached Dabb a few years later with a pro-posal to launch a business togeth-er that was people-oriented and offered simple products. The result of their partner-ship: Dr. Dabb’s Everyday CBD products. They sell a cream and a tincture on their website – Soothe and Relax, respectively, with a price tag of $80 each – in Dabb’s chiropractic office and in select specialty and nutrition shops across the South Bay. “Whenever we can have a business meeting at Cory’s on Sunday mornings or afternoons, we will have Sunday dinners, too,” Dabb said, noting the fa-milial roots of their new ven-ture. “Kids are cruising around, so it’s organized chaos and fun.

That’s how we live our life.” The business partners are aim-ing for organic growth, spending no money on marketing, turn-ing down potential investors and selling products from Dabb’s El Camino Real office via word-of-mouth endorsements – the same way Schwaderer ended up on Dabb’s doorstep in the first place. So far, they’ve contracted with Zanatto’s Market and Home-wood Suites by Hilton. There’s something cathar-tic, Schwaderer said, in know-ing that patients are going out of their way to buy Dr. Dabb’s Everyday CBD products from niche locations to mitigate their pain. “People are looking for thera-peutic relief, and that’s why we have just the two items,” Schwa-derer said. “We just wanted strong medication that works in two simple forms.” Dabb and Schwaderer have been soliciting feedback from the local community to gauge their level of interest in CBD products. The challenge they face is a general misunderstand-ing of CBD, derived from the hemp plant, and how it differs


As local businesses revise their models and adjust their hours and conditions during the shel-

ter-in-place order, the Town Crier is working to keep up and inform readers of those that are up and running in a limited capacity. The Town Crier reached out to own-ers and employees from businesses that reporters were unable to reach for last week’s roundup, calling and consulting websites and Yelp pages in an effort to add to the database of functioning businesses, all of which hope to garner support from local residents and generate revenue dur-ing the coronavirus pandemic. For last week’s initial coverage of the Los Altos business culture in the wake of the statewide lockdown, visit bit.ly/2JkT65K.

Open for business ASA Los Altos on State Street of-fers curbside takeout 5-9:30 p.m. Mon-days through Thursdays and 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Customers can place orders for ASA’s “comforting din-

ners” all day by calling the restaurant. Takeout menus are posted online. ASA is facilitating a grocery service at its Los Gatos location, and Los Altos patrons can participate by request by letting an ASA employee know if they need market prod-ucts. Tom’s Depot in Loyola Corners re-mains open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The diner is serving its full menu, but food is available for takeout only. Rick’s Cafe on State Street is serving a reduced menu for carryout 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Although limited, the offerings include breakfast foods such as pancakes, waffles and egg scrambles, and lunch foods including burgers, sandwiches and salads. Food is also available for delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats. Green Bakery and Cafe at Rancho Shopping Center is open for takeout 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, but hours are fluid, so hungry customers should call ahead. The full menu is available. Satura Cakes on Main Street has not had to change its business operations much, as the bakery served primarily cakes, cookies and other goods to-go be-fore the pandemic hit. Hours and menus – available online – remain the same. An

employee said March 26 that residents’ fear of going outside during the order has negatively impacted sales. Baskin-Robbins on State Street is functioning according to its usual routine. Ice cream and cakes are still available, but customers’ immediate exit is required af-

ter service, because the shop cannot legal-ly operate its small dining area. Hours are reduced to noon to 8 p.m. daily, as there isn’t much foot traffic downtown for now, an employee named Ellie said March 26. Hours will expand when visits pick up or

Local restaurants move to takeout service during pandemic

Los Altos chiropractor and patient launch line of CBD products


A woman leaves Satura Cakes Friday afternoon. Residents’ fear of going outside has negatively impacted sales at the Main Street bakery, an employee said.

See RESTAURANTS, Page 24

See CBD, Page 25


when the shelter-in-place order is lifted, whichever comes first. Pho Cabin on State Street is operating 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5-8 p.m. for dinner weekdays, offering takeout only. Owner Doan Tran said management is working on listing the restaurant on DoorDash, which could take two weeks. For now, customers can order by phone. Cafe Nur on Main Street is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-7:30 p.m. daily. The midday closure – when business slows down – is an approach several other res-taurants in town are taking. Owner Yu-suf Tosun asked customers to call orders in before arriving to pick them up. Cafe Nur’s menu is posted on its website. Morsey’s Farmhouse on Main Street offers curbside pickup 3-7 p.m. Wednes-days through Sundays. Orders can be called in ahead of time, a sign on the res-taurant’s back door instructs. Alotta’s Deli on Grant Road offers to-go, pre-packaged boxes of food as well as takeout from its full menu. Staff is work-ing 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day but Sun-day to accommodate orders, which can be placed online through a contact form, in person and even by fax for those miss-ing life long before the pandemic. Charley Noodle & Grill on State Street has reduced its hours. It is now open 11:30

a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. (with a 9 p.m. closure on Fridays and Saturdays and no service Sundays) for carryout only. Delivery can be arranged through the DoorDash and Postmates apps. Amber India on El Camino Real is promoting takeout and food delivery to “do its part to protect the community,” a Facebook post reads. During the hours 5-9 p.m. daily, customers can call the res-taurant for pickup or order through the DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Caviar and Postmates delivery apps. Cafe Vitale in Loyola Corners offers both curbside pickup and takeout service. The restaurant is open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner 5-9 p.m. week-days, noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. Customers can call to order during business hours; the menu is available online. Coupa Cafe on El Camino Real is open for takeout, curbside pickup and delivery from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. To down-load the restaurant’s app, visit coupa.app. Los Altos Bistro, the restaurant inside Courtyard by Marriott Palo Alto Los Al-tos, offers call-ahead and pickup service 7-9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Only breakfast is available Sundays, 7-9 a.m. A full menu is posted on the bistro’s website. Lisa’s Tea Treasures on Main Street serves sandwiches, scones and other sa-

vory treats 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Customers can call their orders in for pickup or delivery. Red Pepper Bar and Grill on Homestead Road is open 4-8 p.m. daily for to-go orders. Margaritas and “Micheladas” are also avail-able. Call ahead before arriving for pickup. Pho Vi Hoa on El Camino Real re-mains open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily – pre-sumably for takeout only, as mandated by current law. The Vietnamese dishes also can be ordered on DoorDash. The Original Pancake House on San Antonio Road offers takeout and delivery 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Takeout and delivery can be arranged by visiting bit.ly/2UKFeXM. Bell Tower Cafe at Rancho Shopping Center is serving food available for deliv-ery through DoorDash. Call the restau-rant for hours and other details. Mikado on Main Street offers its Japa-nese fare for delivery through Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates. The Town Crier will continue to up-date its coverage of how local business-es are functioning (or not functioning) in the wake of the coronavirus pandem-ic. To add or update information, email [email protected].

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RESTAURANTSFrom Page 22


1527 Fordham Court, Mountain View

Lana Ralston Realtor650-776-9226RalstonWorks.comDRE# 01477598 496 First Street #200, Los Altos

Listing Price: $2,995,000

Welcome to a Smart Home!1527 Fordham Court was completely rebuilt in 2016, with an emphasis on family comfort.

The Living Area is 2,130 sq. ft; the Lot is 8,054 sq. ft; the house includes 4 bedrooms & 2 ½ bath.

The main entrance is formal, with a custom front door and cathedral lighting. The living room fea-tures a custom-designed patio door, three-zone smart lighting, remote-controlled custom shades, and triple-crown molding. The left wall features an Astria double-sided see-through linear gas fireplace, on the other side of which is an inviting open space that includes a beautifully designed gourmet kitchen, family room area wired with Ethernet, HDMI and audio for 5+1 home theater system with wall-mounted Sony Bravia 4K 65-inch smart TV (Android). A future-proof Cat6A Network cable is

installed throughout the entire house allowing speeds up to10 Gbps when the equipment becomes available.

The kitchen features four lighting zones and valances over cabinets, quartz custom countertop, Samsung Counter-depth Flex Refrigerator, Bosch gas cooktop, Bosch quiet dishwasher, Center Island with seating for four, and a large pantry. There are smart remotely controlled switches in the family room and kitchen.

The Master Bedroom has a private entry, two lighting zones with dimming recessed lighting, Holographic Electric fireplace with separate thermostat and remote control, 14 x 5-foot walk-in closet with double doors and motion-sensing lighting, and a wall-mounted Vizio 4K 55-inch smart TV (Android) with a Yamaha sound bar above the TV.

The en-suite Master Bathroom has a walk-in shower for two, Blue Ocean 64-inch Stainless Steel Shower Panel; custom-designed Thomasville lifestyle vanity with self-clos-ing doors, natural stone countertop, and a Kohler Soaking Triangular Bathtub for two. There are two more bedrooms with full bath, an office that can be a fourth bedroom, and a guest bathroom.

The house also has two independent HVAC zones with Nest thermostats, a new high-efficiency multiple speed furnace, air conditioning, and two independent gas water heaters. Dual-pane vinyl windows block ultraviolet radiation (UV) and infrared heat. Custom window coverings include light filtering for the public area and dual light blocking/privacy screen in all bedrooms. There is commercial-grade Pergo laminate flooring in most areas. The kitchen and bathrooms feature ceramic tile, the entry and master bath-room natural stone tile. Kitchen tiles are 48 inches long and are water and scratch resistant.

The two-car Garage has a finished and painted interior, vertically stacked high-capacity LG washer and dryer, and tank water heater for kitchen and laundry use. Ample storage includes numerous customizable shelves and cabinets, and additional closet with insulated door and shelves. Lighting is LED commercial-grade, and there is a mo-tion sensor and camera.

The house’s exterior features a front porch with natural stone (travertine) tile. At the rear is a 10x10-foot deck with travertine tile on a concrete base. There are wall-mounted LED lights and outlets. Out back is a color-coordinated table with six chairs and an umbrella. Front, side and back yards are professionally landscaped with LED lights and outlets, a new fence on the right side; and irrigation systems for front and back yards with timers.

Please check the Virtual Tour and detailed description of the home’s features at RalstonWorks.com


from marijuana. Although anyone can use CBD for relief in areas such as sleep, physical recovery and anxiety, Dabb said, it’s especially helpful to seniors who need alternative pain mitigation options after taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs their entire lives. “They have stomach ulcers, or kidney issues, or small intestine issues,” Dabb said. “(They say), ‘My doctor says I can’t take Tylenol anymore, I can’t take Advil anymore. … I think a lot of seniors, for health reasons, are being forced to find something without side effects.”

The science behind CBD Dabb was interested in hemp long before he met Schwaderer, noting how it could be used as a material for cloth-ing and to produce hydrofuel. But dis-covering its oil extracts could be used to replace narcotics his patients relied on piqued his interest. Hemp, a “cousin plant” of marijuana, does not contain the THC required to al-ter someone’s brain functions. Rather, it positively affects the body, Dabb noted. “Your body has cannabinoid recep-tors in its central and peripheral nervous systems,” he said. “That is what the CBD binds to. So it’s not like you’re taking some-thing that affects you in some way. It’s part

of your body’s own natural regulatory sys-tem. It literally drives homeostasis.” After studying the science, Dabb and Schwaderer recommended a therapeutic dose of 1,000 mg. They relied on a gov-ernment study about the benefits of CBD, information on where the line’s hemp is sourced from organically in Colorado and the lab results of each lot, produced and tested by an in-house third party – available for customers to check on the bottom of each product. They plan to add research on CBD and how it reacts to the body’s nervous system, as well as other educational tools, on their website soon. To purchase Dr. Dabb’s Everyday CBD and for more information, visit drdabbscbd.com.

CBDFrom Page 22

COURTESY OF DR. DABB’S EVERYDAY CBD

Los Altos chiropractor Gregory Dabb launched Dr. Dabb’s Everyday CBD products with Cory Schwaderer.


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Obituary Notice

RUSSELL LEROY SWIGART

Resident of Sunnyvale1/30/1932-3/10/2020

Belove d husba nd , fa t he r, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, and friend.

Born in Chadron, Nebraska, Russ moved to Torrance, CA with his family during the Great Depres-sion. He attended Torrance High School (graduating in 1949), where he played quarterback for the JV team and met his future wife, Pat. Russ and Pat married in 1951; shortly thereafter Russ began an accompanied stint in the US Navy, stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Swigart family relocated to the Bay Area in 1965. Russ and Pat were active in the Foothills Ten-nis and Swim Club for many years.

Russ worke d fo r Sy nt ex Labs and later co-owned Bay-shore Fence Company with his business partner, Randy Lively.

Russ a t tended many Tor-rance High reunions with Pat, and often with brother-in-law Wayne Eads, long-time resident of Tor-rance. He loved his weekly trips to Half Moon Bay for breakfast and strolls on the beach with his dog.

Russ and Pat lived in Sunny-vale for more than 20 years.

Russ is survived by Pat, his wife of 68 years, his daughter Susan, son Steven, brother-in-law Wayne Eads, grandchildren Erin Swigart, Michael Swigart, Michelle Swi-gart, and Evan Blumensweig, his great grandson Alexander Swigart, daughter-in-law Nicole Bloom, niece Andrea Eads, nephew Jason Eads, and many, many friends.

We m i s s a n d r e m e m -b er you r s t rong, s t ubbor n , v i g o r o u s , s i n g i n g s p i r i t .

Datebook items are run on a space-available basis for entertainment, events, classes and groups run by non-profits in our circulation area. The deadline is noon Tuesday for the next week’s paper. Submit notices via email to [email protected] and include a con-tact name, phone number and fee to participate (if applicable). Please note that some of the items may be postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus.

EVENTGreenTown Spring Fling. Celebrate our planet and help sustain and grow Green-Town’s environmental work. Live music by Song Garden, silent auction items with an earth-friendly twist, plant-based appetizers, local beer, wine and signa-ture cocktails/mocktails. 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 26. Los Altos History Museum courtyard, 51 S. San Antonio Road. $50. Green-TownSpringFling.bpt.me.

PRESENTATION“Great Decisions 2020.” A discussion of the most critical global issues facing the U.S. today. 1:30-3 p.m. Mondays. Los Al-tos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road., Los Altos. Free. 948-7683; sccld.org.

EXHIBITS“Distant Lands.” Photography exhibit featuring Jim Colton’s newest works. Art-ist reception 2-5 p.m. Sunday; art walk and talk 10 a.m. to noon April 17. Los Al-tos Hills Town Hall 26379 Fremont Road. 941-7222; jimcoltonphotography.com.

Moffett Field Historical Society Mu-seum. Memorabilia, artifacts, photos and aircraft models connected with the former Naval airbase. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Building 126, Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View. $3-$8; free children under 12 and active military. Photo ID required for adults. 964-4024; moffettfieldmuseum.org.

AUDITIONSFoothill Symphonic Winds. Seeks per-cussionists for its performance season. [email protected].

Schola Cantorum. Choral group in-vites talented adult singers of all musi-cal and cultural backgrounds to audi-tion. Previous college choral experience preferred. Rehearsals 7:15-10 p.m. Mondays. Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave. 254-1700; [email protected].

CLASSES/WORKSHOPSGuided Meditation. Thirty-minute guided meditation session with instructor Manisha Kumar inspire regular medita-tion. 6-6:30 p.m. Mondays. Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road. Free. 948-7683.

T’ai Chi for Arthritis. Developed by Dr.

Paul Lam and endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays. Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Es-cuela Ave. Directed by Foothill College. All are welcome. Free. Register in per-son. 269-2589; [email protected].

Jazzercise. Dance fitness class. 8:30 a.m. Sundays and 9 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Grant Park, 1575 Holt Ave., Los Altos; 8:30 a.m. Saturdays, 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Blach Intermediate School, 1120 Covington Road. First class free. (408) 505-2048.

Square Dance. Led by Bows & Beaus Square Dance Club. Open to adult singles and couples. 7-9 p.m. Mondays. Loyola School, 770 Berry Ave. (408) 219-4239; bowsandbeaus.org.

Gym Ventures. Parent-child classes. Of-ferings include youth sports, swim les-sons and more. El Camino YMCA, 2400 Grant Road, Mountain View. 969-9622.

Fitness Boot Camp. Sixty sessions of exercise. 6-7 a.m. weekdays or just Mon-days, Wednesdays and Fridays. Shower facilities available. Foothill College, 12345 S. El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Less than $4 per class. Registration: foothill.augusoft.net.

Morning Flow Yoga. Led by Duanni Hurd. 7-8 a.m. Saturdays. Yoga of Los Altos, 377 First St. $13.50-$18; Proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. 600-8108.

StrongStep. A Jacki Sorensen fitness class focused on low-impact workouts to upbeat music, incorporating aerobics, strength training, abdominal work and stretching. Offered through the Los Al-tos Recreation Department. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Grant Park, Room 2, 1575 Holt Ave., Los Altos. $65/10 classes. 961-5411.

CLUBS/GROUPSLos Altos Library’s Monthly Writing Group. Casual writing space offering motivation, such as optional prompts, for a community of writers. 7 p.m. second Wednesday of each month. Los Altos Li-brary, 13 S. San Antonio Road. Free. 948-7683; sccl.org/losaltos.

Sons in Retirement (SIR) Los Altos Branch 35. Active mature men who meet for lunch to socialize, enjoy good food, and listen to speakers. Third Wednesday of each month. Palo Alto Elks Lodge, 4249 El Camino Real. (408) 313-6852; [email protected]; sirinc2.org/branch35.

InSpirit Praise & Prayer Healing Room. Healing service for those bat-tling an illness or injury, or feeling dis-couraged, 10 a.m. to noon, the second Saturday of each month. Mantra: With God, there is hope. Union Church cam-pus, 858 University Ave., Los Altos. [email protected].

Datebook


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