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🌱 Patch AM: How a Los Altos inventor quietly reshaped fingerprint security worldwide

Also, don't miss "Travel Memories" by Jan Grady on the Los Altos Patch calendar

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Hello Los Altos! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a Los Altos inventor quietly reshaped fingerprint security worldwide
  • How a Los Altos surgeon reshaped modern facial plastic surgery.
  • How far has license plate surveillance already spread to Los Altos?

Also on today's calendar: "Travel Memories" by Jan Grady and 11 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 85 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Friday: Partly sunny and very warm, temps: high: 88, low: 55. 🌶 Hot!
  • Saturday: Blazing sunshine and hot, with a high of 95 and low of 61 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Remembering Randall Fowler, inventor of the digital fingerprint scanner (losaltosonline.com) — A pioneering inventor who helped make today's digital fingerprint scanners possible spent decades living and raising his family in Los Altos, deeply involved in the local community. Randall Fowler's garage-built technology eventually supported national law enforcement databases and everyday device security, but he always kept close ties to Silicon Valley, founding a Mountain View biometrics company and remaining an engaged Los Altos resident until his death in 2025.
   

• Los Altos plastic surgeon retires after 52 years (losaltosonline.com) — A longtime Los Altos plastic surgeon has retired after 52 years, closing a chapter for patients who've visited his local practice since the 1970s. He reflects on his journey from Holocaust survivor and immigrant child to innovator in facial surgery and laser techniques, and on the teaching legacy that trained many specialists who now practice across the country.
   

• The Flock Backlash and Growing Revolt Against License Plate Surveillance (northdallasgazette.com) — Los Altos is now part of a growing Santa Clara County coalition pushing back against automated license plate reader surveillance, alongside cities like San Jose and Mountain View. Privacy and immigrant-rights advocates describe how Flock camera data can be shared with federal agencies, and urge residents to use public-records requests, audits, and council testimony to influence local surveillance decisions.
   

📸 Around Los Altos

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Los Altos

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📣 Los Altos Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • The Optionality Premium: How SB 9 Is Reshaping Bay Area Listings Before Anyone Builds —Jordan McDowell Read on Patch
  • 🪙 25 cents medium drip coffee ☕️ today Peet's coffee ☕️
    TUESDAY 9/29 ONLY 25¢ Medium Drip Coffee in Our Coffeebars Celebrate National Coffee Day on 9/29 with a throwback: medium drip coffee for just 25¢… (Nextdoor Sunshine)
  • City of Los Altos California posted a job opening for Per-Diem Dispatch Public Safety Specialist in Los Altos. Apply here.
  • Hillstone Restaurant Group posted a job opening for Restaurant Manager in Los Altos. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Los Altos here.

🗞 Nearby News

Mountain View

  • Across two centuries: First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View celebrates 175 years of service (losaltosonline.com)
  • Mountain View, California, Measure E, Charter Modernization Measure (November 2026) (ballotpedia.org)
  • Arts news: History museum volunteers, theater workshops and more (paloaltoonline.com)

Palo Alto

  • Morgan Eckroth Is Going On A 'Coffee For Here' Book Tour (sprudge.com)
  • Los Vega Son Jarocho at The Studio in Palo Alto - October 24, 2026 (sfstation.com)

Redwood City

  • A Divided City Council Backed A New Bay Area Transit Tax Despite Worries On Oversight In Redwood City (patch.com)

Ok Los Altos! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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