I was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Los Altos. What else do you think L.A. Chung stands for?
My first Los Altos event was walking in the Pet Parade in 1962 with my Collie, Laddie. We all went down to the pancake breakfast at Rancho after that. I remember riding my bicycle on Interstate 280 the day before it opened to the public and passing under it to ride up to Maryknoll, before it was a retirement home for priests.
My elementary school was close enough to walk to, and is now Grant Park and community center. I learned how to swim at Los Altos Covington Pool and Los Altos High School in the summers. I learned to ride from Herman Koopmans, following him from Los Altos Hills to Portola Valley.
I've been in journalism since 1980, when I participated in the Maynard Institute's Summer Program for Minority Journalists. I've been a reporter for the Hartford Courant in Connecticut and the San Francisco Chronicle. During a 12-year career at the San Jose Mercury News, I was an editor supervising reporters in community news, weekend breaking news and business. I had a column through which I wrote about local events, the travails of ordinary people fighting City Hall, and the intersection of race, culture and public policy.
Since leaving the Mercury News, I've worked on the Chauncey Bailey Project, the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism and done research Hewlett Foundation projects.
In the old days, once I told people my name, I'd have to quickly add— "No relation to Connie." But no one knows who she is, anymore.
My Beliefs
Always say "Please" and "Thank you." It goes a long way toward making life more civil. Play nicely. Stand your ground if you believe you're right. Admit when you're wrong.
Politics
I believe in sanity, and in public officials striving to do the right thing for the greater good.
I vote in each and every election, and have, at different times in my life, been registered as a Democrat, Independent and Republican.
Religion
My mother raised me at the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. It's the closest thing to "my" church, even if I don't attend.
Local Hot-Button Issues
Los Altos elementary schools are the top in the state. But maintaining school standards during a very sluggish economic recovery period, with limited and unreliable state funds, will be difficult this year and in the coming years. It will require the school community to reach out to the broader community and make the case for donations and perhaps taxes.
Downtown economic vitality is a deep concern.
Could BCS have two K-8 schools—one at Egan and one at Blach? The BCS Board of Directors convenes a daylong special meeting Friday morning which includes a 90-minute workshop to discuss school configuration and government affairs.
The state of California also received failing grades from the American Lung Association.
The trial begins for Jing Hua Wu, charged with three counts of murder of his co-workers, including Los Altos resident Brian Pugh.
The Daily 3 results are 6, 3 and 1. For Fantasy 5 and Daily Derby, read on.
The Sempervirens Fund is working to create a "Great Park" in the Santa Cruz Mountains, spanning San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, by connecting a 198,000-acre string of interconnected public lands together.
As it focuses on its dream of a 198,000-acre string of interconnected public lands, Sempervirens appoints Craig Neyman, CFO of the Packard Foundation, to its board and adds scientist Wallace "J." Nichols to its Science Advisory Panel.
As it focuses on its dream of a 198,000-acre string of interconnected public lands, Sempervirens appoints Craig Neyman, CFO of the Packard Foundation, to its board and adds scientist Wallace "J." Nichols to its Science Advisory Panel.
In the spirit of National Day of Service, you, too, could make an ongoing commitment to serve the community by applying to on one of Los Altos' commissions, from Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission to the Senior Commission.
As it focuses on its dream of a 198,000-acre string of interconnected public lands, Sempervirens appoints Craig Neyman, CFO of the Packard Foundation, to its board and adds scientist Wallace "J." Nichols to its Science Advisory Panel.
The Daily 3 results are 3, 8, and 6. Read below for the Daily Derby and Fantasy 5.
MLK Service Day coincides with the National Day of Service on Jan. 19, kicking off the three-day weekend, and culminating on Jan. 21. Tell us what this holiday means to you and how you will observe it?
The Los Altos Police log for Jan. 15, 2013 was light— and we like it that way.
The Daily 3 results are 9, 3, and 2. For Daily Derby and Fantasy 5, read on.
As it focuses on its dream of a 198,000-acre string of interconnected public lands, Sempervirens appoints Craig Neyman, CFO of the Packard Foundation, to its board and adds scientist Wallace "J." Nichols to its Science Advisory Panel.
The former Department of Commerce appointee was selected on Jan. 7 to fill Anne Marie Gallagher's seat.
From the president of Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., to the first franchisees of Kentucky Fried Chicken, see obituaries of people who lived and were part of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
The Daily 3 game results are 4, 2, and 2. Read on for Daily Derby and Fantasy 5.
The Los Altos School District instructed staff to evaluate different configurations of grade levels to house BCS at Egan Jr. High School and Blach Intermediate School.
Patch allows anyone to post obituaries for free, of any length and with as may photos as you like.
Neighborhoods north of El Camino Real were told their last boundary change would be long term. The Bullis Charter School facilities offer, coupled with sure growth in the area, raises concerns that it won't be.
