Christina Casillas

Reporter and Editor at Los Altos Town Crier

Managing Editor @LATC | Know something? Email me, [email protected] | 🇲🇽 | All opinions are my own

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Articles

Bevri leaves Los Altos

4 days ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Georgian restaurant Bevri, which opened in Los Altos May 25, 2022, abruptly closed in late April. In a letter posted to the door of the 325 Main St. location, the owners of the restaurant thanked those who’ve dined there during its almost three years on Main. “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our wonderful guests who have dined with us at this location,” owner Pavel Sirotin wrote in the letter.
Police seize drugs, cash at traffic stop

4 days ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Los Altos police arrested a San Jose man the morning of May 2 after a traffic stop for multiple vehicle equipment violations revealed a felony warrant, a “large quantity” of drugs and other incriminating evidence in the vehicle. Los Altos police pulled over the motorist at 2:01 a.m. for health and safety code violations related to his vehicle, according to the May 2 Los Altos Police log.
Mountain View sets eyes on increasing foot traffic as downtown vacancies wane

1 week ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

The data, provided by commercial real estate data source CoStar, is less than what was reported in the first quarter of 2024. During the first quarter of 2024, 25% of office and 8.5% of retail space was vacant. While the numbers point to a positive outlook, Peter Katz, Mountain View Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said there are hurdles to bring vacancy rates down in and around downtown Mountain View.
LAPD urges caution amid new ATM scam

1 week ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Supermarkets and ATMs are the locations of a new sleight-of-hand crime trend the Los Altos Police Department (LAPD), and other local police departments, see emerging. The incidents unfold like this, according to LAPD Sgt. Stephen Spillman: The suspect closely watches an unsuspecting customer using a supermarket self-checkout or ATM machine, deciphering their four-number personal identification number.
Maison Alyzée makes inconspicuous return post-fire

2 weeks ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Maison Alyzée, a French patisserie off Castro Street in Mountain View that was forced to shutter last month after a fire sparked in the kitchen, is back to providing what owner Laurent Pellet described as quality service and high-end fine French pastries. The patisserie, which has been at 212 Castro St. since July 2018, was closed for five weeks as Pellet and contractors rushed to repair damage from the fire, which was sparked at 3:57 a.m. March 3 by a charging lithium ion battery.
Get ready for a major downtown infrastructure upgrade this summer

2 weeks ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Downtown Los Altos is going to be buzzing this summer; not only with people, but with the sound of road construction. Three main projects are slated for this season, and one of the biggest projects is set to start Thursday.
Mountain View fire department adds ambulance to its emergency response fleet

2 weeks ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

A long-awaited addition to the Mountain View Fire Department’s (MVFD) emergency response team is expected to hit the road soon: an ambulance. The vehicle will be joining the fire department’s fleet of vehicles, which includes seven engines, one rescue and hazmat vehicle, respectively, and one truck.
I definitely have killed some plants, but I’ve gotten better

3 weeks ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Like many people, I associate April – and other spring months – with blooming flowers, green trees and new life. The month is also exciting almost every year because I can expect to plan, and plant, my garden around that time. While my family and I usually grow fruits and veggies – zucchinis, tomatoes, a variety of chiles and watermelons – my passion lies with herbs.
Federal funding freezes can cause “dire” consequences

3 weeks ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Abe-Koga, a former Mountain View city council member, replaced Joe Simitian as district 5 supervisor this year as he’d termed out. The biggest impact that will be felt by the county is related to Medicaid, she said. The House of Representatives passed a budget resolution that would cause significant budget cuts (about $880 billion over 10 years to pay for the administration’s priorities) to Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, which is government-provided health coverage.
Mountain View Council approves controversial project

1 month ago | losaltosonline.com | Christina Casillas

Despite outcry from residents, Mountain View City Council conditionally approved a builder’s remedy development in the 200 block of Tyrella Avenue during last week’s council meeting. The decision came after the council received input from the city, developer Tower Investments and more than a dozen residents. A builder’s remedy project can be started when a city does not have a compliant housing element, and the 294-296 Tyrella Ave.