News Briefs News Briefs (March 18, 2005)

Council members head to D.C.

Vice Mayor Nick Galiotto and city council members Mike Kasperzak and Matt Pear went to the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this week.

The three were scheduled to meet with the chiefs of staff for U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein as well as Bush Administrations officials, to talk about issues ranging from a threatened community grant program to funding for homeland security equipment and training for police officers.

Espino trial opens

The murder trial of a driver accused of killing a Mountain View bicyclist was set to begin Wednesday after the Voice's press time.

David Espino pleaded innocent in December to murder charges in the February 2004 crash that killed Mountain View resident Jim Dein and maimed his friend Ted Aberg. If convicted, Espino faces 15 years to life in prison.

Singing and dancing

The Arts Council Silicon Valley announced last week that it will award small grants to two Mountain View-based nonprofits. The Western Ballet ($2,000) and Cantabile Choral Guild ($5,000) were among the winners in the program that targets small and mid-size arts programs. The Concerts4Kids series at Community School of Music and Arts was among last year's winners.

The grants are funded by Santa Clara-based Applied Materials, completing a four-year program totaling approximately $500,000.

Fast-food manager wins car

The drive-thru window at one Mountain View Burger King is so efficient that the company is honoring its manager with a new SUV. Scott Tea, manager of the Burger King at 177 W. El Camino Real, won a Jeep Liberty on Tuesday through an employee contest, which has given away 10 SUVs.

Tea's branch is "among the best in the country at delivering fast and friendly drive-thru service to Burger King customers," according to a press release.

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