by Peg Champion
GreenTown Los Altos Correspondent

There was a time, not long ago, when a maturing steelhead trout could swim from Permanente or Adobe Creek to its adult home in the San Francisco Bay. Today, steelhead are unable to make that journey and have all but disappeared from many of the local creeks in Santa Clara Valley.

Map of our local watershed. Red lines show concrete channel areas. Photo credit: Map courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California. http://museumca.org

Flood control measures and urban development over the past 50 years have transformed creeks into concrete channels, and the original salt marshes are now salt evaporation ponds.  Thanks to invasive species, native ecosystems are vanishing, and toxins and trash have degraded the watershed.
“Our watersheds and creeks have been compromised by logging, agriculture, mining and channelizing.  Few streams support fish migrations in ‘traditional’ pre-1950s manner,” says Jim McCarthy, an Acterra Streamkeeper volunteer and a member of numerous other creek monitoring organizations.

Acterra, an environmental non-profit serving Silicon Valley, GreenTown Los Altos, and many local organizations (see below) are working hard to remedy the situation.  This Saturday, May 19, marks a nationwide river cleanup effort and, here in Los Altos, GreenTown is leading a trash cleanup of Permanente Creek. “Many of us drive over the four main creeks in Los Altos every day, unaware of their existence or their condition.  Come this Saturday and learn how rainwater, water from landscaping and storm drains, and trash all meet in our creeks on their way to the Bay,” says Barb O’Reilly, event coordinator and member of the GreenTown Water Stewardship team.  “Come be a part of our solution to creek pollution!”

The GreenTown Water Stewardship program works to reduce water consumption, runoff pollution and household chemicals and pharmaceuticals that are dumped into the wastewater system.  Joe Eyre, a member of the stewardship team, also serves on the Los Altos Environmental Commission. “This year, one of the Environmental Commission’s initiatives is increasing awareness – and the health – of our watersheds.  In addition, the city has taken the positive step of committing to reduce trash flowing into our streams by banning expanded polystyrene takeout containers and single-use plastic bags, by no later than July, 2014.”

The City of Los Altos contracted with Acterra to restore Redwood Grove, a nature preserve in Los Altos that surrounds Adobe Creek.  This model restoration project brings community volunteers together to remove invasive plants, establish native plants and create habitat for native wildlife.  Water flow and animals in the watershed are indicators of health and sustainability, according to McCarthy.  But the challenge is to manage flood control and storm water flow, while striving for “the ultimate success of restoration and sustainability: full watershed access to ocean-going fish,” says McCarthy.

In January, in conjunction with the Shaped by Water exhibit at the Los Altos History Museum, Acterra and artist Daniel McCormick worked with local volunteers to build a bio-engineered willow sculpture. The living sculpture will restore a creek bank in the park. Photo credit: ©Joel Bartlett, 2012

Acterra also sponsors the Stevens and Permanente Creeks Watershed Project, which monitors water chemistry, bacteria and toxicity of aquatic habitat – particularly in Stevens Creek.  Joanne McFarlin, Acterra senior ecologist and project director says, “We encourage the idea of the ‘citizen-scientist.’  We need local volunteers to monitor water quality, participate in our ongoing study of creek bugs at our ‘Bug Club,’ and help with creekside habitat restoration.” McFarlin says there are many causes of pollution – from business and residential development to industrial waste – but urban runoff is by far the most difficult to address. “Most residents don’t know that they are contributing to local creek pollution by using pesticides and fertilizers in their yards, washing their car in the driveway, draining their pool into the storm drain and allowing their cars to drip oil onto roadways.”  However, McFarlin says she is encouraged by the “trend toward creek and watershed revitalization and restoration” by local municipalities, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the state and federal government.

Jill Bicknell, assistant program manager at the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff
Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPP), agrees. Bicknell acknowledges the detrimental impact of flood-control measures instituted in the ‘50s and ‘70s, and from urban development and impervious cover (roads, driveways and parking lots) but she says, “One of the biggest problems is trash” from storm drains, especially plastic bags and polystyrene foam.  SCVURPP manages Watershed Watch, a public-education campaign that promotes simple things citizens can do to help protect their watershed.  “There’s an increase in public awareness and a movement towards more natural processes in watershed management,” says Bicknell.

“It’s important to remember that we are all upstream from our oceans,” says Jessica Frank, Surfrider Foundation outreach coordinator for the Rise Above Plastics campaign.  The campaign works to keep plastics out of the marine environment and helps people to reduce their plastic footprint.  “It’s imperative that people understand the impact their actions have, and that simple, local actions can solve this global issue.”

“We have to manage storm runoff and ‘slow it, spread it, sink it,’” says Dr Rick Lanman, founder of Friends of Adobe Creek, an organization dedicated to restoring the once-perennial stream.  “This means keeping the water from running off into the Bay.  If it has time to soak into the ground, then the water table gets recharged.  During the dry season, water flows out of the ground aquifer and back into the creek.  This is what makes a creek perennial.”

Lanman says that to restore the watershed, “we need to eliminate in-stream barriers, concrete and incised creek channels and to clarify the streams of harmful sediment by replanting stream banks with native riparian plants.  The steelhead is an ‘indicator species’ of environmental health.  When the steelhead come back, we’ll know we have a healthy ecosystem.”

Almond School Brownie Girl Scouts Troop 61015 with the metal pipe they found at the Sept. 2011 Permanente Creek Cleanup. This year’s cleanup will launch a pilot program for scrap metal to be recycled rather than sent to the landfill as in previous years. Photo credit: ©Sara Elkin, 2011

Be Part of the Solution to Creek Pollution
National River Cleanup Day: Permanente Creek Cleanup
Saturday, May 19, 9am-Noon, Heritage Oaks Park, Los Altos
Register Now.
Volunteers will meet at the picnic tables, at Heritage Oaks Park near Miramonte & Portland Avenues in Los Altos.  Wear long pants, sturdy shoes and sunscreen.  Bring your own pick-up sticks, re-useable water bottles and gloves.  All youth under 18 need supervision and transportation to the cleanup site.

Sponsored by GreenTown Los Altos and the Creek Connections Action Group, a consortium of public agencies and non-profit organizations that share a goal of protecting Santa Clara County’s waterways.

Water Quality Monitoring of Los Altos Creeks
To better understand the state of our creeks, GreenTown Los Altos is exploring working with Acterra and others to monitor water quality in our local creeks, starting with Permanente.  Please let us know if you are interested in working on this project.  Email water@greentownlosaltos.org.

Water Education Information
Slow it.  Spread it.  Sink it!  A Homeowner’s and Landowner’s Guide to Beneficial Stormwater Management http://www.sscrcd.org/rainwater.php

“Shaped By Water: Past, Present and Future” http://www.losaltoshistory.org/water.html.  This Los Altos History Museum water education exhibit closed April 22; the exhibit now travels to the History Museum of Los Gatos, where it will open in August 2012.

Watershed Restoration Organizations
Acterra – http://www.acterra.org/
Creek Connections Action Group – http://www.cleanacreek.org
Friends of Adobe Creek – http://www.facebook.com/AdobeCreek
GreenTown Los Altos greentownlosaltos.org
Los Altos Environmental Commission http://losaltosca.gov/committees-commissions/environmental/
Los Altos Hills Water Conservation and Open Space Committees http://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov
Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition – http://www.sccreeks.org
Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program – http://www.scvurppp.org
Stevens Creek/Permenente Creek Watershed Council http://www.spcwc.org/
Surfrider Foundation – http://www.surfrider.org/
Watershed Watch – http://www.mywatershedwatch.org

Peg Champion is a member of GreenTown Los Altos and the principal of Champion Organic Communications.  She helps businesses tell their sustainability stories.  For more information visit http://ChampionOrganic.com.

Brooke Ray Smith took top honors with the most “green miles” (over 600), including 159 miles commuting by bike

Brooke Ray Smith (right) receives Grand Prize for Los Altos/Hills (photo courtesy of Joel Bartlett)

during the two-week contest.  Her efforts avoided over 330 pounds of CO2 emissions.  Brooke Ray lives in San Francisco and commutes to Los Altos by train, riding her bike to and from the train stations. One day each week, she bicycles to work, sometimes bicycling the entire way and other times taking the train to the Millbrae stations and then bicycling the rest of the way.  Much of her bike trip is on the beautiful trail that runs along the bay.  Brooke Ray received a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Shawsu, a beautiful orchid arrangement from Alabasta, a $40 gift certificate from Gitane and a gift certificate for alterations at Paris Tailor.

With the help of Brooke Ray and over 160 other participants, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills was ended the contest as the #1 community in the region-wide contest that included many much larger cities.  In terms of total “green miles” (miles traveled by alternative means such as carpooling, walking, biking, or taking the bus or train) and in emissions avoided, our community performed better than second, third and fourth place finishers:  Foster City, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale.  This was a significant improvement over last year’s fifth place finish.  Our community logged over 10,000 green miles and avoided over 6,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.  Go team!

Other prize winners honored in Los Altos on Thursday night, included:

Second Place Overall “Git Around Green” Award

Gary SegarGary went over 500 green miles, avoiding over 280 pounds of CO2 and he did it by carpool, train and bike (111 of his miles were by bike).   He receive a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Shawsu, a gift certificate for breakfast or lunch for two at Rick’s Café and a certificate for a Marie Callender’s pie.

“Thank Goodness for Worplace Showers” Awards

Rich Hill bicycled over 240 miles to and from work.  He was awarded a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Shawsu and a gift certificate for breakfast or lunch for two at Rick’s Café.

Nanci Scharfen bicycled 174 miles to and from work and took the bus a couple of other days for another 36 miles.  Her prize was a $50 Safeway gift card and a $20 gift certificate from BK Collections.

Steve Folkman combined biking and train to win his award.  He routinely rode his bike to the train station then
traveled by train to Belmont and rode his bike from there to his office.  Most days, he then rode his bike the entire 17 miles home.  He won a $40 gift certificate for Sumo Sushi and a $20 gift certificate from Chain Reaction Bicycles.

“Double Century” Awards

Lucy Hsu went over 200 miles on her bike for errands and kids’ activities.  She won a $20 gift certificate to Casa Lupe Restaurant, a $10 gift certificate to the New Wing Wah Restaurant, $10 gift card for The Bicycle Outfitter and a $10 gift certificate to BK Collections.

Kimberly Beck, also known as The Biking Baker, logged 241 bike miles for errands, school and kids’ activities.  She received a prize of a $20 gift certificate to Chef Chu’s, a $10 gift certificate for Tom’s Depot, a $10 gift card for On Your Mark and a $10 gift card for The Bicycle Outfitter.

Susanne Jul biked (43 miles) and carpooled (97 miles) to work and then either biked or walked another 57 miles just for errands.  Like the other winners of this award, she also totaled over 200 green miles during the two weeks.  Her prize was a $20 gift certificate to Chef Chu’s, a $25 gift certificate for Hartman Fashions and a $5 gift certificate to the Gourmet Works.

“Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round and ‘Round” Award

Sue Young, aka “Cycle Sista,” traveled by bus for more miles than anyone else – a total of 78 miles for her commute to work. On days when she commuted some other way, she either carpooled or biked.  She won a $20 gift certificate for BK Collections, a $10 gift certificate for Tom’s Depot and a $10 gift card for The Bicycle Outfitter.

“These Boots Were Made for Walkin’” Award

Jeanne Evilsizer walked the most miles of anyone in the contest.  She logged 28 miles walking to work and for errands.  She received a certificate for a Marie Callender’s dinner for two and two $10 gift cards for On Your Mark.

“Electric Errands” Award
Doug Hahn mixed it up on the green miles, biking and driving his electric car. He tallied 136 electric miles for kids’ activities and errands.

Gary Hedden wins "Busy Biker" Award (photo courtesy of Joel Bartlett)

“Busy Biker” Award
Gary Hedden rode 127 miles on his bike just doing errands and rode many more bicycle miles for social, civic and fun activities. He won a $20 gift certificate for Chain Reaction, a $10 gift certificate to Tom’s Depot and a $10 gift certificate for Andronico’s Market.

Student Awards

In the student category, we had a number of winners who biked, walked and carpooled.

Jarrod Hsu won “Century Club” Award, going 164 green miles, of which 140 were on his bike.  He received a $40 gift card to Skateworks, a $10 gift certificate to Tom’s Depot and gift certificates for two ice cream cones at Baskin-Robbins on State St.

Three students won “Reliable Rider” Awards for their consistent bicycling efforts during the contest.

Christina Segar, aka “Blachbiker,” bicycled to and from school each and every day of the contest and won a Chain Reaction gift certificate for a Blackburn Flea bike light and a $20 gift card from Adventure Toys.

Dylan Weitz commuted 22 miles to school by bike for 9 days of the contest and also received a Chain Reaction gift certificate for a Blackburn Flea bike light and a $20 gift card from Adventure Toys.

Amy Linker, going by the online moniker “Red Velvet,” biked or walked 50 miles to and from school and other social activities.  She won a $10 gift certificate to the Linden Tree, a $10 gift card from The Bicycle Outfitter and a gift certificate for an ice cream cone from Baskin-Robbins on State St.

Matthew Leong wins a "Karpooling Kids" Award (photo courtesy of Joel Bartlett)

Three additional students were honored with “Karpooling Kids” Awards.  They each received a certificate for an extra large pizza from Spot Pizza and a gift certificate for an ice cream cone from Baskin-Robbins on State St.  Mitchell Kita carpooled for 84 miles, Matthew Leong carpooled 47 miles to school and activities, and Cindy Linker carpooled or biked to school and church, and carpooled to gymnastics and other activities.

All winners also received two coupons for a free dumpling or soda with purchase at Sudam Korean Cuisine.

Winners who were not present on Thursday will be mailed their prizes. Congratulations to all our winners!  We hope they continue their environmentally healthy ways of driving less.  They are each an inspiration to other members of our community.

Many businesses in town were prize sponsors for the event and we’d like to thank these businesses for their support.

We took the top spot in both “green miles” and pounds of CO2 saved by changing our driving habits. Yea, team! Congratulations to everyone who participated.

Los Altos and Los Altos Hills outperformed the eight other communities participating in the contest, even though many of those cities have much larger numbers of residents and businesses.

The unofficial results are that we went over 10,000 miles by taking the train or bus, biking, walking or carpooling in lieu of driving solo and, in the process, prevented about 6600 pounds of CO2-equivalent emissions from spewing into our atmosphere.

Over 170 people were registered participants and 25 local businesses provided prizes.  Random prizes were awarded each day of the contest.

See a complete list of daily prize winners on the GreenTown Los Altos website.

Participants who kept track of their trips, including miles travelled and mode of travel, are eligible to win prizes based on their accomplishments.

Awards will be announced and presented at the Bike, Walk, Win! Party on Thursday, May 10 from 6 – 8 pm. The event will take place at 359 State St. Bicycles and is free of charge and open to the public.

May 10 is also Bike to Work Day and bicycle commuters are warmly invited to attend.

Ever wonder what happens to the yard waste, clippings and food scraps that you put into your green organics tote?

Carl Mennie, Republic Services, and Margie Suozzo, acting director GreenTown Los Altos, discuss the composting process. Photo: Gary Hedden.

If you live in Los Altos, it heads to Newby Island in Milpitas.  Republic Services has a 16 acre site adjacent to the Newby Island landfill dedicated to turning green waste into compost.  Carl Mennie, Recyling and Composting Manager, explained it all as he led a tour organized by Teresa Montgomery of Mission Trail Waste System for several GreenTown Los Altos volunteers, Los Altos Environmental Commissioners; Joe Eyre, Steve Anderson and Zahra Ardehali, and City of Los Altos staff Jim Gustafson and Gil Fletcher.

It all starts with truck after truck bringing in the loads, 800 tons a day on average.  Eight different haulers from Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa counties bring their greenwaste to the Newby Island Composting Facility, including Mission Trail, carrying organic waste from Los Altos.  (GreenWaste Recovery, which serves Los Altos Hills, delivers its organics to Z-Best, a Zanker company, located in Gilroy where a similar process takes place).

Freshly pulverized green waste shot out of the grinder. Photo: Joe Eyre.

After the loads are dropped, the material goes through a grinder.  This huge metal beast pulverizes the waste into small shredded bits which are then laid out in long rows aimed in the direction of the prevailing wind, hence called “windrows”.  These rows are big – 8 feet tall x 20 feet wide. The combination of moist organic waste and naturally occurring micro-organisms starts the process.  No starter or other additives are necessary.  Temperatures in the windrows of at least 131 degrees are needed to destroy pathogens. Republic Services typically sees temperatures of 145 degrees within the first day that the material is windrowed, which promotes healthy and rapid decompostion.

Compost lined up in long windrows undergoing the 3 month process. Photo: Joe Eyre.

The windrows are turned every three days for the first 15 days and then every week to ensure complete conversion.  After 85 days the decomposition process is complete and the finished compost is screened several times to finer degrees.  At each point, air blowers remove plastic scraps and the big organic pieces are sent back through the entire composting process. The final screening takes place in a rolling machine called a trommel that further screens the material to 3/8 or 1/4 inch. The resulting product is sold primarily to wholesalers who package it, bag it and resell it in retail outlets, such as Lowe’s. It meets the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) standards and is OMRI-Listed for use in organic gardening or agriculture.

Final impressions.   It is really great to see all this waste broken down and reused in a productive, healthy product.  By the way, we saw the trash coming in from Los Altos and it looked clean.  Much less plastic than the loads from other cities.   Way to go Los Altos!

The Epicurean Group uses organic, sustainable products that are sourced within 150 miles of their kitchens. It also buys carbon credits to offset their catering vehicles and promotes composting.

Along with GreenTown Los Altos, the Epicurean Group, led by CEO Mary Clark Bartlett, founded a Business Co-Op in 2010 which allows members to purchase compostable take-out containers, utensils and cups at competitive rates. The Co-Op is free and open to all restaurants, businesses, food service suppliers, organizations or individuals, in any city or location. All participants receive a 25% discount off the retail price of  World Centric products.

Read the full article.
Learn more about the GreenTown Los Altos Business Co-Op.

Kimberly Beck, The Biking Baker, with her yellow Electra bike

You may have seen Kimberly Beck on her yellow Electra cruiser biking around Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and surrounding communities delivering home-made baked goods, appetizers and dinners. A seven year resident of Los Altos, Kimberly started The Biking Baker in 2009. At that time she was recovering from a water skiing accident and doing a lot of baking and cooking which is an enjoyable stress release for her. Encouraged by friends and family, she started catering private parties. One day she and daughter Lilly rode their bikes to a Stanford football game with 200 cookies. They sold out in under one hour. The Biking Baker was born!

Bittersweet brownies sprinkled with gold dust

Kimberly’s clients enjoy food crafted from high quality ingredients such as Scharfenberger chocolate, European butter and organic produce. She caters private parties, does regular work for Intuit (90 people), bakes for water polo, soccer and other sports teams and is a private chef. Some of her specialties include bittersweet brownies sprinkled with gold dust, triple chocolate cookies, Valrohna chocolate chunk and chip cookies, and Grand Marnier-Apricot Shortbread Bites.

A former TV commercial copywriter and occasional actress, Kimberly is also an athlete, having competed in several marathons and triathlons. Her running career is now over, but she swims every morning at Fremont Hills and gets plenty of exercise making 25% of her deliveries via bike.

Chocolate Cake

She joined the Drive Less Challenge and has only been in a car twice since the contest started on April 22. She rode 26 miles on Sunday and rode to Whole Foods to shop for her family of five. She is passionate about bike safety and making Los Altos a more bike-friendly city. “I love my business here in Los Altos. It’s a great community to bike in. But there there is so much more that can be done to make our city one of the best bike-friendly cities in Northern California. I hope our mayor and town council and other groups can come together and move forward with a grand master plan and community center that promotes walking and biking with plenty of bike lanes and bike parking.”

Her three children attend Gardner Bullis, Egan and Los Altos High School. The older two ride their bikes to school daily. The primary reason the child at Gardner Bullis doesn’t ride as much is the horrible intersection of Foothill/Edith/Los Altos Avenue . “My children have had close calls on their bikes and they would REALLY like to have better bike lanes around town.”

To learn more about The Biking Baker, contact Kimberly at thebikingbaker@yahoo.com.

White lamb

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  It works to preserve Deer Hollow Farm, located in Rancho San Antonio Park in Cupertino, as a working homestead and supports historical and environmental education programs for our community.  Approximately 100,000 people visit the Farm annually.  More than 5,000 children come on school field trips annually from 40 Bay Area Schools.  In an outdoor, hands-on classroom, they learn about the source of their food, recycling, organic gardening, the value of open space and parks, the interdependence of all life, and local history.

Meeting a Sheep

Meet the Farm Babies at Deer Hollow Farm.  On Saturday, May 19, from 10am-1pm, kids are invited to go nose-to-nose with the new lambs and kids, a cow, pigs, chickens, rabbits, ducks, sheep and goats.  Trained docents will be stationed in the animal pens, explaining animal care and what life was like on a homestead farm.  Spend some time with these animals, then walk through century-old farm buildings, a large organic garden and orchard, and learn what daily life was like just 150 years ago, when most Americans lived on homestead farms like Deer Hollow Farm.  Enjoy fun, interactive activities and hands-on learning in the Farm Nature Center.  Plant a bean to take home and enjoy refreshments in the Hay Barn.  Entrance fee is $5 with children under one free.

For more information, click here.

• 4/22:  KevO
• 4/23:  Cycle Sista
• 4/24:  ddan
• 4/25:  blisskid
• 4/26:  nancynico
• 4/27:  jeanniec
• 4/28:  NathanH
• 4/29:  Blachrider
• 4/30:  Julie A.
• 5/1:     Alice
• 5/2:    Luciane
• 5/3:    Kate the Great
• 5/4:    Linda Z.
• 5/5:    Sierra T.

They each received either a $5 gift certificate for Gourmet Works (205 Main St.) or gift certificates for two ice cream cones at Baskin Robbins (264 State St.).  Congrats to all!

There’s still time for you to sign up.  The contest runs through May 5.

“I challenged myself to give up selfish habits,” says John McBirney, a dentist and past winner of the Drive Less Challenge. “Instead of thinking of all the reasons not to ride my bike to the office, I asked myself, what are the reasons to ride?”

John McBirney, outside his Second St. dentist office says, “The Challenge was a contract I made with myself; it inspired me to be better.” McBirney rides his bike to work every day.

There were plenty.

“Riding increases vitality and clears your head. It allows you to engage with people and with your environment. Plus, you save energy and money.” McBirney was one of 900 Peninsula residents who took part in last year’s program designed to get people out of their cars.

Take the Challenge
For a two-week period starting on Earth Day, April 22, you can challenge yourself to use an alternative form of transportation to run errands and to get to work or school. By leaving your car at home, you can improve your health, save money, conserve energy and eliminate CO2 emissions.

What is the Drive Less Challenge?
According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, motor vehicles are the major source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the Bay Area. The Drive Less Challenge started in Menlo Park in 2009 “to promote health and quality of life” and to reduce solo trips in gas-powered vehicles. Each year, the program has spread to more San Francisco Peninsula communities.

GreenTown Los Altos’ Leadership Team Member Karen “KJ” Janowski launched the challenge in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills in 2011. “Last year, our GreenTown Los Altos community collectively logged a total of 8,837 green miles, saved more than 5,400 lbs. of CO2 and placed fifth out of nine participating communities,” Janowski says. “Our goal this year is to double our miles – and our carbon savings.”

Bike! Walk! Win! Party!
In addition to saving money and gaining health benefits, Drive Less Challenge entrants can also win prizes donated by local shops and services. Janowski says, “Los Altos merchants have been very supportive, and we’ve put together some great prize packages for entrants.” Grand prizes are awarded for best performance and will be presented at GreenTown’s “Bike, Walk, Win!” Party on Bike To Work Day – Thursday, May 10 – from 6–8 p.m. at 359 State Street, a pop-up bike shop in downtown Los Altos. Random daily prizes are also awarded.

Kids can enter the challenge, too and win, too. Last year Dylan Weitz, then a first grader at Gardner Bullis, traveled by bike to school with his dad, Marvin, every day of the Bike Less Challenge and won in the student category for Most Miles Biked.

Mayors Meet the Challenge
Val Carpenter, Los Altos mayor, is taking the challenge and plans to walk to work downtown, rather than drive. “Walking is a great way to really get to know your neighborhood. We live in a beautiful area with fantastic weather – get out and enjoy it.”

Los Altos Hills Mayor Rich Larsen says he believes in the health and environmental benefits of biking and is challenging himself to ride to at least one meeting per week. “Biking is fun and healthful,” Larsen says. Both cities have committees that specifically address bike and pedestrian safety issues.

Meet Others Who Met the Challenge
A 2011 winner and a member of the Los Altos Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Chris Hlavka, says she participated last year to increase awareness of alternative modes of transportation. “Strong participation in the Challenge encourages cities like Los Altos to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.”

“The Drive Less Challenge provided the motivation I needed to change my San Francisco commute routine,” says Tom Fenstermacher, GreenTown’s Overall Winner. “I started taking CalTrain and biking to and from the station. I got five miles of exercise, left work at a consistent time, caught up on email and arrived home in time for family dinner. Thanks to the Challenge, I was happier and healthier.”

For Mike Gospe, winner of Best Blog Story, it was easy to get involved, thanks to his flexible work schedule. What began as a personal challenge – riding his bike to do errands around town, combining tasks with exercise – soon became a pleasure. Gospe says, “When I started blogging about my adventures, I’d end up talking to people about what I was doing. I’d ask them to take my picture. It turned out to be a lot of fun.”

Even if you already drive fewer miles than anyone you know, you should still take part, says Joe Eyre, a member of the Los Altos Environmental Commission. Eyre plans to participate again this year. “It makes you think about what you are doing for yourself and your community, every time you head out the door.”

Peg Champion is a member of GreenTown Los Altos and the principal of Champion Organic Communications. She bought bikes for her family so they can take the Challenge.

Sign Up Now – Here’s How!
Sign up at drivelesschallenge.com It’s easy and free. Set your personal goals, join the GreenTown Los Altos team and track your progress. Encourage your friends to participate and win great prizes!

Check out the GreenTown Los Altos blog for updates and progress reports on the Los Altos and Los Altos Hills Drive Less Challenge community greentownlosaltos.org

For more information about the 18th Annual Bike to Work Day visit: youcanbikethere.com

Mayor Carpenter with some Family Bike Day participants

Sixty kids each went through six stations to complete their bicycle safety course, including bicycle skills, a safety hazards quiz, helmet fitting, bike check-up by Bicycle Outfitters and Chain Reaction Bicycles, a rock climbing wall (to demonstrate the importance of helmets, and okay, to add a little more fun!), finishing with their own home-made bicycle blender smoothie.

Working hard for that smoothie!

The inclement weather didn’t stop folks from coming out for the second Family Bike Day at Santa Rita either. Los Altos Mayor Pro Tem, Jarret Fishpaw even came out to make his own smoothie!

The Family Bike Days were funded by the City of Los Altos, through the Los Altos Police Department. Safe Moves, a leading authority on traffic safety education, ran the bicycle safety events.