Politics & Government

News Worth Knowing: Los Altos April 4-9, 2011

A bridge collapses off Miramonte Avenue, a Los Altos actress stars in California premiere, a committee says cement plant shows no significant health risk, a St. Francis grad almost spoils Giant's home opener, and $159 is a lot to pay to text (LOL!).

It's busy, and we know it's easy to miss news.  Now that it's Sunday, give yourself a short respite for few minutes. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and get caught up.

And hey, we've even got new video for you!

1.

The first story of the week remains the most memorable story the week: The Santa Clara County Fire Department went one bridge too far. Responding to a 2 a.m. medical call, the crew of Engine 16 headed over a small private bridge that serves 12 units at 1473 Miramonte Ave.

Find out what's happening in Los Altoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Then the bridge gave way, and the truck was suspended above Permanente Creek held in place by its front and back bumpers. The crew scrambled out and rendered medical attention. The patient got to an area hospital safely after the crew summoned its flabbergasted chief and a second engine. Engine 16, however, stayed for another 15 hours before they got the right equipment in place to set things right again. Postscript: The residents of the units were able to drive their cars out using a backyard on the adjacent Holly Avenue, but when the bridge will be repaired is unknown.

See Battalion Chief Joe Parker describe it. And see our pictures to the right.

Find out what's happening in Los Altoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

2.

The ad-hoc committee of council members from Los Altos and Los Altos Hills said Friday that emissions from the Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant do not appear to pose a significant health risk to local residents based on evidence collected thus far.

The joint committee, comprised of Mayor Ron Packard and Councilman David Casas of Los Altos and Town Councilman Gary Waldeck of Los Altos Hills, said it would still be hiring an independent analyst. 

“However, to make sure, the ad hoc alliance will hire the services of an independent expert in the field to review all available data and to render an expert opinion,” the statement said.

Last month, from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board to get answers to their questions as to what and how much the plant and quarry is emitting and discharging, and whether the cities need to be concerned.

The goal, council members said, was to provide an objective and independent analysis of evidence, and share as much information as possible with the public. In February the group established the online South Bay Quarry Library of more than 300 documents related to Lehigh so that residents could examine the documents themselves.

3.

 Los Altos actress Mia Tagano talked about the new play, Snow Falling on Cedars that marks a California premiere for the Mountain View-based TheatreWorks —and her third time performing as the character, Fujiko.

The well-known book, Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson, and the 1999 movie by the same name is on stage at the through April 24.

“Parts of the story are very similar to my own," she said. Her grandparents were strawberry farmer who met in internment camp, and her lead character was a strawberry famer who was teken to internment camp in Manzanar, California.

The story of Snow Falling on Cedars revolves around the murder trial of Kazuo Miyamoto, a Japanese-American man who is accused of killing Carl Heine, a Caucasian fisherman, and is set on an island in the San Juan Islands off of Seattle,  in the early 1940s and in 1954, when the murder trial takes place.

4.

The Giants' wild home opener against St. Louis Friday, was due in part to former St. Francis High School player, Daniel Descalso. Cardinal's infielder Descalso, a Redwood City native who starred at St. Francis High in 2003 and 2004, fueled the visitors’ ninth-inning rally with a pinch-hit infield single off Wilson with two out to give the Cardinals runners at first and second. After Wilson hit Jon Jay with a pitch to load the bases, Ryan Theriot singled home Yadier Molina and Descalso to put the Giants in a 4-3 hole. Then in the 11th, Descalso, who made his major league debut last September, set up St. Louis’ best extra-inning threat with some fundamentals that would make former Lancers coach Chris Bradford proud. After Molina drew a leadoff walk from Javier Lopez, Descalso sacrificed Molina to second and was safe at first on Lopez’s throwing error. Fortunately for the Giants, Lopez regrouped, for the 5-4 win.

5 .

Hundreds of local police departments, including Los Altos police,  joined the CHP this month to crack down on texting and other distracting cellphone use. For something we all do—furtively or not so furtively, if you watch our video—it might be time to change our way.

The first violation of the laws costs a minimum of $159, and subsequent tickets will cost $279, according to the CHP. Watch this site for Los Altos' ticket count in April.


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