News Worth Knowing: Los Altos Was Wet and Windy, And Now Celebrates a State Championship

Boy, what a week.

It's busy, and we know it's easy to miss news.  Now that it's Sunday and the rain may keep you indoors a little longer, take advantage of the respite. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and get caught up.

The week started on a somber note, after resident Mats J. Weltman died from his injuries early Sunday morning following his solo automobile crash. Weltman apparently lost control of his 1998 Pontiac at the El Monte Avenue off-ramp at Interstate 280, hitting a tree and sustaining major head injuries. The 32-year-old Weltman, who worked as a personal trainer, was a graduate of Los Altos High School and Foothill College had majored in kinesiology at San Diego State University.  Weltman was taken to Stanford Medical Center after the accident at 5:28 p.m. March 19, but he died of his injuries several hours later. 

The Los Altos-Mountain View League of Women Voters had its annual "Meet Your Elected Representatives" on March 20 at the Los Altos Youth Center. Indeed, looking at , with elected officials outnumbering residents, the afternoon provided a good chance to buttonhole someone who makes decisions every month that affect some aspect of local life. About 20 elected officials, from Robert Anderson, president of the Purissima Hills Water District, to Paul Fong, state Assemblyman, were in attendance.

After months of negotiation, the Los Altos School District voted unanimously on its offer for district facilities to the Bullis Charter School Monday. The offer was expanded by one additional portable building for a teaching classroom, two additional non-teaching spaces and two hours a week for use of the track, gym and tennis courts at  campus, where Bullis Charter School . The charter school has been in litigation with the district for most of its existence since opening in 2005. It is on track to add an eighth grade to its program, after starting a seventh-grade program this school year. Ken Moore, BCS board chairman, said he didn't think the additional portable building will be sufficient. BCS has until May 1 to give a written response.

The Bay Area was lashed by wet and windy weather Thursday, which downed trees and cut power to many communities, particularly in the North Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains and San Mateo County. Los Altos was spared the most extreme problems, but city crews were kept busy unclogging and pumping out storm drains. Hillview Community Center's front parking lot became a small pond, as pictures show here.

Redwood Grove was submerged in water from Adobe Creek, and some  households that flank the creek reported the water was coming up to the lower portions of their backyards. Resident John Day took some dramatic photos of Redwood Grove's bridges and walkways in the deluge.

Girl Scouts wrap up their final day of sales of their famous cookies this weekend, and in Los Altos, booth sales may be dampened by the last of the rain for this week. Whether , Sunday is the last chance  to stock up. Look for them at the supermarkets and the Los Altos Library in the afternoon—Lucky's in south Los Altos, Draegers downtown and Andronico's in Rancho Shopping Center. Starbucks in downtown on Main Street, depending on the weather, is also scheduled to have a troop there in the morning until noon.

And lastly, Los Altos Patch gives hearty congratulations to the Pinewood Girls Basketball team, which scored back-to-back state championships Friday. Benefiting from its veteran players, Pinewood took the CIF State Girls Basketball Division V Championship Game in Sacramento's Power Balance Pavilion. Inspired play and a motivated quad of senior Pinewood girls triumphed, 67 to 56, over St. Bernard.

Kelsey Morehead, Caitlin Ciardella, Hailie Eackles and Miranda Seto go out in their senior year with a season to savor.