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Published on 08/24/1998 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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Exercise all options in search for lost pet

For the past 5 1/2 weeks I have been searching for my lost cat, and as I've done so it has occurred to me that perhaps my experience can be of help to others who have lost or found pets.

The agency that has animal control jurisdiction for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills is Palo Alto Animal Services, 3281 E. Bayshore Frontage Road, Palo Alto (phone 496-5971).

They maintain a list of lost and found pets. They scan every animal that is brought in for microchip identification. They also have available a map of all animal shelters on the peninsula.

The Humane Society offers general recommendations.

FOR FOUND PETS: newspapers will publish found ads free. Check classified LOST ads.

list it with animal shelters and volunteer groups, such as Pets In Need (367-1405). have it scanned for microchip identification. Place posters in area where pet was found.

for lost PETS: Check your neighborhood. Call the pet, walk around at night when it is quiet, carry its familiar food container. List with Palo Alto Animal Shelter and others. Place newspaper classified ad.

Go to the Humane Society Shelter at 2530 Lafayette St., Santa Clara. They will not take a phone listing. They keep unidentified strays only three days. Put up posters. Make them easy to read from a moving car.

I have followed all of the above suggestions. My efforts were rewarded (last week) when I responded to a call from someone who was sure that the cat in her yard (which she took into her house) was mine because it looked just like the picture on the flier. She was right! Many thanks to all of the kind people who have called, and I hope that they continue to be aware of animals who appear hurt or lost.

Evelyn MillerLos Altos

MV apartments to impact schools

The. Aug. 19 issue of the Los Altos Town Crier reported that the Mountain View City Council is considering twin 10-story apartment buildings at 2400 El Camino Real. The project, called Skyview Apartments, will be in the Almond School area. It will include 127 one-bedroom units, 95 two-bedroom units and 15 three-bedroom units. Los Altos School District (LASD) projects that the project will generate up to 100 additional children for the school district.

The Mountain View planner associated with the project indicates that he does not see any problem. He disputes the LASD student generation number and projects only eight students.

I think Mountain View planners and city council members are fantasizing if they maintain that a project of this size will generate only eight students. The reputation of LASD is well known. People with families who prioritize education over space will choose to live in these apartment units.

More than 40 percent of Almond's 25 classrooms are now portables. With 535 students this year, the school has 35 percent more students than planned for when it was built. The school district has developed a plan and put a November bond measure on the ballot that will provide new facilities and relieve the overcrowding, but students from this particular development were not specifically included in the population projections that were done. There is no guarantee that the bond measure will pass.

The district will get approximately $300,000 in developer fees from this project by law, but this will not be enough to build adequate classrooms for the new students.

It is irresponsible for the Mountain View City Council to approve this project without addressing the issue of the impact on the schools.

I believe Mountain View planners and city council members should visit Almond School, see the facility and gain an understanding of the impact of an approval of this project.

They should delay approval until a reasonable solution to address the school facilities for the additional students can be devised.

Not to do so would be unconscionably irresponsible.

If you are concerned about overcrowding in the LASD, please let the city of Mountain View know.

Attend the public hearing tonight and the council meeting on Sept. 8. Write the city council members and call the city's project manager, Mary Fulford.

Cheryl WeidenLos Altos

Courageous rebuttal to home birthing

Ann Bashyam, in Other Voices Aug. 19, wrote a most courageous, eloquent and forceful rebuttal to the testimonial for home births that recently appeared in the Town Crier.

She reminds prospective parents contemplating such a course that the true objects of the exercise are to ensure, as much as is possible, the delivery of a healthy, brain-intact baby, while dealing promptly and effectively with any maternal complications that may occur during the birth process. Issues of parental control, as important as they are, must give way to these.

Norman Greenberg MDLos Altos

Hidden Villa benefits from love of open space

Your article in the Aug. 12 issue, "A love of the land," relating the growing support and volunteerism in open-space preservation organizations is indeed good news. We here at Hidden Villa hope that more than a quarter of a million school children who have participated in our environmental education program since 1970 are among those volunteers.

We also have experienced an increase in job applicants stating that they want to work for an organization that teaches environmental values. But we could always use some more volunteers, particularly as guides in our school program. Give us a call if you are interested, 949-8650.

Judith SteinerExecutive Director,Hidden Villa