Just shop at Whole Foods - Los Altos on May 25th anytime from 8AM-10PM and 5% of the net sales goes to LAEF.  It’s pretty easy.  No coupons or fliers are needed.  Restock your pantry, buy picnic supplies, update your emergency food supplies, fill up your wine rack, eat lunch or dinner at Whole Foods Los Altos! 

According to LAEF’s website, the mission of LAEF is:

The Los Altos Educational Foundation works to raise funds and to provide financial support as a supplement to the resources of the Los Altos School District for the purpose of funding academic and enrichment programs, and improving the overall education of students in the schools of the Los Altos School District.

The Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Tax ID# 94-2862793.

Click here to see the programs that LAEF has slated for funding this academic calender.

Join LAEF’s Facebook page.

Thanks for supporting our local schools!

Measure A is a bond measure that will be put to the voters on the June 2010 ballot.  It would fund new classrooms and green renovations at our local high schools.  According to a recent demographic study, enrollment in our local high schools will increase by slightly over 25% (approximately 900 students) over the next ten years.

Click for a FULL TEXT BALLOT PROPOSITION OF THE MOUNTAIN VIEW-LOS ALTOS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND MEASURE ELECTION JUNE 8, 2010

For those interested in further information about Shoup Park, Click on the following link for a post I did on the park.  http://siliconvalleyrealestateinfo.com/shoup-park-often-mis-pronounced-always-fun.html

View Shoup Park in Los Altos, CA in a larger map

The district is estimating that enrollment will increase by approximately 25% (900 students) in the next 10 years.  That is about 450 new students per high school.  According to the district, there isn’t enough classroom space to handle this anticipated increase.   The bond would increase classroom capacity.

In addition, there is a “Green” element to the proposed bond.

According to the district web page:

“If approved, the bond would prevent overcrowding in district schools, support core academic programs such as English, math and science through improved classroom technology and facilities and upgrade fire and earthquake safety systems to meet modern standards.”

Additional details about the bond can be read in this press release.

Building Education for Students Together (BEST), has been formed to promote the issue and address questions that the community may have.  A (soon to come) BEST website, http://www.bestformvla.org/ will provide further information about the Bond.

FYI – The Ballot Measure requires a 55% voter approval to pass the bond.

All of our local schools do some sort of fund raising during the year.  At Springer, the Auction and the Walk-a-thon are the largest fundraising activities.  Monies raised are used by the Springer PTA to achieve its goals which include offsetting reductions in funding to LASD from the State budget.  Without these fundraising efforts, many of the programs that Springer offers would be reduced or cut altogether.

A huge thank you goes to the Auction Chair, Brooke Schiller as well as all the volunteers who helped put the event on.

We spent about 30 minutes picking out a tree and the kids (the lot is staffed by the high school kids) bundled it up and tied it to the top of our vehicle.  Click below for a flyer describing the tree lot. 

MVLA_Christmas_Tree_Lot_Flyer_

Below our some pictures of our time spent at the Christmas tree lot.

I took several photos of the damage (see below):

Sweet Shop in Los Altos is now open, originally uploaded by David Blockhus.

The Sweet Shop, located at 994 Los Altos Avenue, has opened.  I stopped by this morning while on the Friday real estate broker’s tour to check out the place.   It looks like a nice north Los Altos neighborhood handout and a great kid friendly place.

An interesting tidbit on this store is that all proceeds go to benefit the Los Altos public school system.  Their web site is not quite ready for prime time, but they do have a blog.  Check them out for coffee, smoothies and sweet treats.  I’m partial to anything “gummy.”  Can you say Swedish Berries or Cinnamon Bears?

Satake Estates is one of Summerhill Homes newest developments.  Located in Mountain View on the old Satake Nursery site (at the end of Marilyn Drive), Satake Estates is a higher end development of 30 single family homes.Currently, prices range from $1,537,000 to over $2,013,000 plus options.  Home sizes range from approximately 2238 square feet up to approximately 3358 square feet (s.f.).  Lots range from approximately 6000 s.f. to slightly over 11,000 s.f., with the majority of the lots in the 6k+ s.f. range.  Click here for interactive community map.

When I previewed the homes last Friday, there were many things that I liked about the development; the quality of the construction, the high ceilings, the large bedrooms (so many times new home developements have teeny-weeny bedrooms) and many of the features (I’m sure the model homes included many optional upgrades).  I liked the emphasis on “green” construction, energy efficiency and that the homes were designed to be Greenpoint rated.  I liked the wide hallways, high countertops and general open feel to the floor-plans.  Lastly, I liked the two-story designs and large garage spaces.

There was only one negative; the bathroom sinks were good looking but not functional.  The small “bowl” sinks sat on top of the counters and all I can think about is water going all over the place and what a pain to clean.

The development is aggressivelly priced for the immediate neighborhood and even though the homes are located within the Los Altos School District (Springer Elementary, Blach Intermediate, Mountain View High), it might be hard to justify (financially) buying one of these homes and making it pencil out.

For example, one could buy a home in Los Altos, remodel and expand and be close to the asking price of the larger homes.  However, one would have a Los Altos address and Los Altos sized lots which command higher prices and still have ability for faster appreciation.

I try to advise my clients into rethink buying the highest priced home in any neighborhood.  Why?, one may ask!  Because the values of a lower priced neighborhood typically drive down the value of a higher priced home within that neighborhood.  This is the case with Satake Estates.  They are the highest priced homes in Mountain View and the surrounding neighborhood(s) are likely to have a downward pull on home values within the Satake Estate’s neighborhood.  The next closest neighborhood in price, schools etc. would be Gest Ranch and homes in this neighborhood have recently sold under $1,300,000.

All in all, I liked what I saw.  If one desires a “new” home with great schools, this may be the place for you.  As the Summerhill Homes marketing material states “We believe a great neighborhood starts with great schools and custom home features.”  This development certaining fits the bill.However, I think that the Satake Estates homes may be priced above what our current real estate market may bear.   Check them out for yourself, they are located at 1156 Marilyn Drive (enter via the Springer Road side of Marilyn).  OR

If you would like me to act as your buyer’s agent (not affiliated with the seller or builder) and/or arrange a personal tour for you, please contact me directly at 650 917-4250.

Image via Wikipedia

Forbes pulled data from the U.S. Census 2005-2007 American Community Survey.  This survey polled over 2,500 regions with 20,000 to 65,000 residents about about their educational attainment.  

Forbes took the number of post high school degrees (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D’s and professional degrees) for each town and divided by the number of residents over the age of 25 and then weighted to give a final average for each town.

I was raised in Los Altos with an appreciation for the value of a great education.  My mother was a teacher (professor at San Jose State University).  I was graduated from the Los Altos School District (Oak Elementary and Blach Intermediate School) and the Mountain View/Los Altos High School District, (Awalt High School, now called Mountain View High School).  My wife is a teacher at Terman Middle School in the Palo Alto Unified School District.  My children attend schools within the Los Altos School District (Springer Elementary School and Blach Intermediate School).   

I give you a little of my personal educational background because, like most of the residents of Los Altos (and Palo Alto), my family originally moved to Los Altos because of it’s excellent schools.  As the Forbes article points out, Los Altos (and Palo Alto) residents are highly educated, and as such, want to foster that appreciation for education by making sure that their children also receive a great education.

Elementary School         2007 Base        2008 Growth    Improvement

Almond Elementary                          968                          964                                 4

Covington Elelmentary                     928                         954                               26

Loyola Elementary                             972                         974                                 2

Oak Elementary                                  969                          982                               13

Santa Rita Elementary                      952                         959                                  7

Springer Elementary                         948                         959                                11

Middle School                  2007 Base        2008 Growth    Improvement

Egan Junior High                                 958                         962                                 4

Blach Junior High                                950                         937                              -13

High School                     2007 Base        2008 Growth    Improvement

Los Altos High                                      802                           795                               -7

Mountain View High                          833                            854                              21

For further information about the Accountability progress reporting system,  the California Department of Education has prepared an informational guide entitled the 2007-08 Academic Performance Index Reports Information Guide.