Los Altos Kicks Off 60th Year of Incorporation

The City of Los Altos officially kicked off one year of celebratory events marking the 60th anniversary of the town’s incorporation on Dec. 1, 1952.

With a bang of her gavel, Mayor Valorie Carpenter adjourned last week’s Los Altos City Council meeting in honor of the anniversary year.

“I am honored to serve as the mayor of Los Altos during the city’s 60th year,” Carpenter said in a statement. “I look forward to a great year.”

Carpenter is co-chairing a committee of community leaders with Mayor Pro Tem Jarrett Fishpaw to plan the year’s festivities. The group started working six months ago, and it is open to anyone interested in joining. The next meeting is 9 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, in the Neutra House, 181 Hillview Avenue. Email Carpenter to join.

The committee’s website lists several of the events coming up in 2012, including:

• “Faces of Los Altos” exhibit at the Los Altos History Museum from May to October;

• “How Los Altos Looks Today”, children’s photography contest sponsored by the Los Altos Libraries and Los Altos Youth Commission;

• A free, family-oriented concert dring the Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival, Saturday night, Oct. 6;

The year’s events culminate with a gala dinner dance on Saturday night, Dec. 1.

In addition to Carpenter and Fishpaw, the committee includes City staff members Marie Backs and Beverly Tucker, as well as community leaders Steve Anderson, Jeff Baier, Laura Bajuk, Jane Cronkhite, Jan Fong, Barry Groves, Dick Henning, Karen Jenney, Penny Lave, Don McDonald, Paul Nyberg, Doris Padilla, Karen Purtich, Jane Reed, Julie Rose, and Jim Thurber.