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.
Gilroy Police Officer Rene Arbizu and Morgan Hill Police Officer Steve Pennington received a MADD California Hero Award for excelling at efforts to stop drunken driving.
The Daily 3 results are 6,7 and 1. See below for The Daily Derby and Fantasy 5.
Officer Chris Tucker has received a MADD California Hero Award for excelling at efforts to stop drunken driving. Other local officers include Santa Clara County Sheriff's Deputy Samy Tarazi and CHP Officer Daniel Gunter.
Where is everyone? Looks like the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival, by most accounts.
It was a dog's life at the Arts and Wine Festival. We thank Chris Kasso for putting up photos of Splash. Readers are invited to put up their pictures with one of our favorite themes: dogs who accompany their owners to the festival.
There was towing at Foothill Crossing, as well as in north Los Altos, and the thing that went bump in the night turned out to be a cat.
The gutsy Los Altos Little League team didn't give up, and forced a winner-take-all game on the way to Thursday's win.
There are 35 homes on view this weekend, beginning Friday, so you have even have time to peek at a couple before the jammed-packed weekend's activities begin.
The Daily 3 results are 9, 1 and 7. Results for the Daily Derby and Fantasy 5 are found below.
The Fire Department breaks a window to get the baby with a police assist Wednesday. Other notable news includes a trash can fire at Blach School, and another case of identity theft.
The Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival is the big event of the summer, but don't forget that there's fun before and during, with other events, after you've checked out some of the best artisans.
A contractor fired yoga teacher Alice Van Ness after she shot "a look of utter disbelief" at a Facebook employee typing on her phone, setting off discussion of whether every yoga class should be a phone-free space.
Teacher was fired for shooting "look of disbelief" at student on phone.
Los Altos Police arrest a man on felony warrants, a 13-year-old surprises a would-be burglar, two more tows take place at Foothill Crossing, and a whole lot more from the police log of July 10.
The officer was struck by a helicopter rotor blade during a rescue attempt in Shasta Trinity Forest.
The Daily 3 Wednesday evening is 4, 6 and 0. the Daily Derby and Fantasy 5 are below.
The Fantasy 5 winning numbers are 37, 36, 17, 3 and 27. More results below for Daily 3 and the Daily Derby.
Teacher was fired for shooting "look of disbelief" at student on phone.
Alice Van Ness shot 'a look of utter disbelief' at a student typing on her phone during class, setting off discussion of when and where to draw the line on mobile device use during yoga class. Take our poll.
Summer's pleasures include music and performances at Linden Tree's Wednesday morning series. Then, merchants and the Village Association celebrate 'Kids' Day' Thursday evening at the Farmers Market, with more performances, puppets and more.
