Los Altos Hills News

Who hasn't thought about digging up the back yard and building a tranquil, soothing retreat with a beautiful pond and gorgeous fish? "It all started with my wife Cynthia saying, " 'Honey, I want to hear the sounds of running water in the back yard.

Description: In a truly unique setting and architecturally one of kind estates, this property is located in Los Altos Hills, Ca.

The net assessed value of all property in Santa Clara County grew a mere 0.18 percent from last year, marking the smallest increase in 31 years, the county finance agency reported last week.

The Santa Clara Valley Koi and Water Garden Club will hold its 18th annual pond tour on July 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour will feature six ponds of various sizes and designs located at private residences in Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and Mountain View.

The net assessed value of all property in Santa Clara County grew a mere 0.18 percent from last year, marking the smallest increase in 31 years, the county finance agency reported this week.

When she was a girl, Bebe Cassin and her younger brother would be sent on a train from California to Illinois, where they would spend summers on their grandparent's farm.

Fifteen-year-old Peter Li and his 14-year-old sister Vivian are typical teenaged siblings who'd rather steer clear of each other, except when it comes to cooking up plans to help abandoned children in China.

A Foothill-DeAnza Community College District trustee will join outgoing chancellor Martha Kanter in Washington, D.C., the college district announced Monday.

Palo Alto Online A&E * Outdoors: Star Party The Peninsula Astronomical Society will lead a free star-gazing event Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Foothills Park, 3300 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills.

Palo Alto Online News Photos A house on Campo Vista Lane in Los Altos Hills sold for $4,000,000 on June 4, 2009.

Rabbi Josh Zweiback has landed a gig that just might be more exciting than making a hit record with his band, Mah Tovu.

On ridding the yard of gophers: Q Dennis, I had to laugh at the suggestion of flooding a gopher out of its hole.

The mayors of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills both acknowledged Wednesday the economic recession has hurt, then highlighted civic successes and plans to improve their towns.

Couple: Parris Schmidt and Jennifer Schmitt Parents: Ernest and Susan Schmidt of Los Altos Hills, Calif., and Dr.

Elizabeth-Oakland's Ashton Purvis took a painfully long walk. Purvis, the defending state champion in the girls 100-meter dash, was disqualified for a false start in her 100 qualifying heat at the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan-Clovis High on Friday night.

Q I just returned from a week in Washington state, where local television was talking about the need for a passport or enhanced driver's license when returning from Canada or Mexico.

The New Mexico-bound senior soared in the long jump and used a near-perfect start and an explosive burst in the 100 meters to get two titles early in the evening at Gilroy High on Friday.

When the LCROSS satellite, nicknamed Centaur, smacks into the south pole of the moon in late October, it is expected to produce a plume of dust 37 miles high, which may be visible from Earth with a good backyard telescope.

A literacy program in its second year has given about 40 East Palo Alto second-graders the opportunity to savor reading during summer break.

Los Altos Hills officials expect an almost $500,000 revenue drop in the next fiscal year because of the economic recession and a combination of state cutbacks and borrowing.