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Published on 05/12/1997 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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Springer blessed by this volunteer

It is not often that a community is fortunate to have an individual who is both concerned enough to bring about change and talented enough to make it happen. Springer School is blessed with one of these individuals.

All public schools are in trouble when it comes to funding the activities that go beyond the "three R's," and many schools are unable to bring their facilities up to what most would consider minimal standards. Cammie Hanley fought the public's misconception that a school in the Los Altos School District shouldn't need help from the community to paint its dirty walls or replace is yellowed and broken windows.

As a wife, a mother, a full-time employee, and president of the Springer Site Council, it is safe to say that Cammie has enough to do. But Cammie is one of those rare people who will not miss an opportunity to make a lasting difference. Cammie recruited the non-profit housing rehabilitation group, Christmas in April, to help renovate Springer. Over the past two weeks, and culminating on April 26, her project will leave a legacy for all of our children to enjoy, as Springer School will look like a new facility.

In an era when role models and heroes are hard to find, I am proud to have served with Cammie.

Brad Elman

Springer Site Council

A deliberate act of kindness

Recently I met two friends at the Le Boulanger for a morning cup of coffee and a business discussion. It was an important meeting and in leaving my car I was a little careless in putting my papers and other materials together, resulting in my dropping an envelope with important material inside. A loss that would have caused me a good deal of grief

Fortunately a good Samaritan found the papers and from my name and address on the envelope obtained my telephone number, called my home, and my wife told her where to find me.

This unknown lady found me with my companions enjoying our coffee, asked if I was Bill Henderson and handed me the envelope that until then I did not know I had lost.

It's not difficult to imagine my surprise. How easy it would have been for her not to do anything. Yet she went the extra mile to help a stranger.

Hers was not a random or thoughtless act of kindness. It was a deliberate effort to help an unknown fellow citizen. She certainly had stars in her crown that morning, and I imagine a lot of other times, too.

She left before I had a chance to ask her name, but fortunately I did have time to express my heart-felt thanks. Aren't we all blessed that people like her exist?

Bill Henderson

Los Altos

More facts about Moffett

In the April 30 Letter to the Editor from Dr. Michael Schuh he concludes that we should "all move from conjecture to facts" concerning the noise impact from increased air traffic at Moffett Field.

In the order of his letter here are my comments and thoughts.

The idea of planes landing and departing over the water has started to come up with regularity from those who would favor allowing commercial traffic at Moffett.

The fact is that planes take off and land into the wind, which at Moffett prevails in the onshore direction. On a few days a year storms which typically come from the south cause prevailing winds to blow offshore, and we don't hear planes landing but we sure do hear them taking off over populated areas like Los Altos. The idea of allowing traffic, weather permitting, since it would come in over water, avoids the fact that takeoffs would cause much more noise. Schuh mentions that residents "near" Moffett will "never hear" air cargo flights, but he fails to consider the much higher takeoff noise over Mountain View, Los Altos and Cupertino.

The fact is that the large planes mentioned by Schuh which currently use Moffett do so on an irregular and seldom basis, whereas the proposed air cargo traffic would be heavy and around the clock. No comparison. Do they "bother" us now? No. But they sure would if they took off over our heads.

The fact is that takeoff is much noisier than landing and is currently done in over-water direction, Schuh must be kidding when he says that general aviation is more of a worry to him "if it is allowed to use the airfield without restrictions on flight paths."

The fact is that light planes fly by the same principles takeoff and land into the wind. However, the fact is that the constant din of light-plane traffic crisscrossing the area and on their low altitude, downwind leg is an unfair imposition on our communities.

Preferring complacency to "scare tactics" poses the real threat to our area concerning increased air traffic at Moffett.

Carl Orta

Los Altos

Lights needed in parking lots

I totally agree with Dolores Sandoval about the necessity of lights in the parking lot (at Foothill College). I'm one who feels uncomfortable to use some of the parking places at night, and know about ladies that get together to go to get the car.

I think that well-lighted parking and walking areas are a must.

Emma Rocchi

(No address given)