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Published on 09/18/1995 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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A gift to children of the future

Every new school year is an exciting one. The families in our community are most generous with their gifts of time and materials to our schools. This year Todd and Lisa McLean who own the Gilbert Spray Coat volunteered to paint some of my furniture.

Their children Joey ( fourth grade student) and Bobby (kindergarten) and three neighborhood children helped to load all of my kindergarten chairs, the furniture from the "housekeeping corner," some shelving and small tables and the "teacher chairs" on to an enormous flatbed truck.

All these pieces of furniture have been painted a shiny "wet" red and blue. I am so appreciative to the entire McLean family for their generous gift to this year's kindergartners, but to all my kindergarten children of the future.

Molly Hammerstron

Almond School

Still looking at that 19th century lifestyle

An Aug. 23 "sidewalk" comment by a State Street merchant said in regard to the repaving that she hoped to get more foot traffic from Los Altos and Los Altos Hills people.

As someone who blundered into a bedroom community (Los Altos Hills) years ago not knowing what that goofy idea meant, I want to ask, "except for some dried apricots or great organic vegetables (and boy did the council have to sweat that one out) where could we shop? Or go out for dinner?

Even today all that the local inflexible minds can come up with is a slap at a murdered Dave Bellucci (July 19) who had the idea of a resort which if properly designed could have provided wonderful tax revenue for the town.

A town that would consider turning down a prestigious Foundation discreetly nestled in its famous owner's own property which would bring lasting honor to this myopic town is not concerned with traffic, but rather with securing a 19th century lifestyle. Like it or not, today's priorities include city-style needs and government mandated changes. The rural town myth was long ago dispelled.

Patricia Greenhood

Los Altos

A new plan of action for St. William Hall

The (proposed) acquisition of St. William Parish Hall by the city seems to be a highly desirable planning action. Concerns about noise and traffic voiced by neighbors should not prevent this worthwhile move.

Since the St. William property and the school district property adjoin each other, development of direct access between the two areas would keep traffic out of residential neighborhoods. For example, the existing footpath along the west edge of the school district could be widened to become a driveway for use by both foot and vehicle traffic.

Not only would access exist, but both the parking lots near the district office and the tennis courts, plus space next to St. William Hall becomes immediately usable.

An arrangement such as the above along with fencing changes to prohibit access to St. William Hall from Rosita Avenue would keep traffic to and from St. William Hall activities from neighborhood residential streets.

I hope the involved bureaucracies will be flexible enough to seek and find a way to accomplish the acquisition without antagonizing any concerned group.

A.P. Kromer

Los Altos

Federal intrusion into local school district

Goals 2000 is another example of Federal intrusion into our local schools.

This education reform act is viewed as voluntary, but it includes words synonymous with mandatory.

For example, there are 195 uses of "shall," 63 of "will," 33 of "require" and 13 of "must."

It seems that you can voluntarily join, but once you're in, you're under orders!

Kudos to Montana, Virginia and New Hampshire for refusing Goals 2000 money.

If only California and Los Altos/Mountain View Union High School District had.

Pam Bryant

Los Altos

Who owns sidewalks where diners sit?

All around the town, who owns the sidewalks?

This question "popped in" as I was threading my way between chairs, dogs, people, bikes and bags, just trying to walk down town to complete a simple errand.

Sidewalk eateries abound.

Who owns the sidewalks that these merchants are using as their private commercial space?

If, as I feel, we taxpayers do, then where's our cut of the action?

Perhaps the merchants put a little extra in the city pot for this extend your facility's boundary privilege but, if I am part owner of this hard space, I haven't seen their profits reflected on my tax bill.

Floyd Gelhaus

Los Altos

To the New York Times... Los Altos Edition

From the day you purchased the Town Crier, I have said to myself, "Thank God someone had the vision to see what an asset the Crier is to Los Altos."

You not only had the vision, you have had the ability to quickly run it into a profitable operation. Your advertising lineage is proof of your success.

I have admired your skill in this operation .... until last week!

Excuse me... but what a DUMB idea to change the masthead of the paper to a different very formal font, (or do you really mean it?).

I think I do not have to tell you that the success of Los Altos rests in large part on the fact and perception that this is a real Village, not a typical small town or city.

The old 1972 era masthead helped to foster that image and people have responded. If we somehow try to mold Los Altos into the appearance of Hayward or Redwood City, we are dead.

Now you come along and state that the new look is just like the other big news papers throughout the United States and so that is why you changed it. Obviously I could carry on for pages, but I know you are smart enough to get the message..

Briefly the message has to be... "Come on, you're kidding."

An otherwise loyal reader and advertiser...

Walter Andrews

Los Altos Glass Co.