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Published on 05/12/1999 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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Have we lost all perspective?

The question posed in the April 28 issue of the Town Crier in a letter to the editor by a former resident who had returned for a visit after a four-year absence was, "What have you done to our village?"

In the same issue was an article describing the millennium party being planned for the community at $500 per person with hoped-for profits going to the History House museum building fund.

Is there a connection - $500 per person? Have we lost all perspective? What happened to the "family celebration" originally suggested?

A potluck dinner with close friends and a donation to a favorite charity sounds better by the minute.

Nancy MarstonLos Altos

Non-giving 'charities' not worth harassment

No one likes to receive telephone solicitations during the dinner hour - especially if they are usually from the same source, such as the Santa Clara Police Officer's Association. It has been reported in the media that less than 10 percent of this money goes to charity. One evening I received two calls from them, spaced an hour apart. I do not enjoy giving rude responses to some of these calls. I would appreciate it if police officer associations would take either of the following positions:

1. If they condone these solicitations, offer a reference to a document containing an audit stating that a minimum of 50 percent of the proceeds goes toward a charitable cause.

2. If not, they could disavow themselves from these associations.

Charities such as The Second Harvest Food Bank receive our contributions without resorting to harassment.

Bob DaviesLos Altos

What has happened? Plenty good

When I read the letter to the editor, "What's happened to our village?" (April 28 Town Crier), I immediately thought of the great things that have been happening in Los Altos over the past five years.

The partnership among residents, community groups and the city council is working well. I am delighted to be part of our community where both residents and businesses come together to implement improvements.

We have a lot of great things in Los Altos:

A healthy, attractive, active downtown that is both a destination for some of us and a neighborhood service center for others.

A new park on the corner of Edith Avenue and San Antonio Road.Help us name it.

City purchase of the property at First and Main streets, and its potential development to benefit both residents and businesses.

Corporate headquarters of the Packard Foundation and its many contributions to the community.

A community foundation that is raising an endowment to support the needs of Los Altos and sponsors programs like the Los Altos Mediation Program.

The gift of the Veterans' Memorial in Shoup Park to the people of Los Altos.

Purchase of St. William School for public playing fields that should be ready to play ball on soon.

Continuous community support for improvements to our two libraries that make them among the best in the county.

New History House Education Center to break ground soon.

Most important, our community is blessed with active, creative and giving individuals who offer the gift of so many volunteer hours.

So what is happening in our village? There is always something that reflects residents enjoying and enhancing their community. Nearly every week there is an activity sponsored by local folks for us all to enjoy - this weekend, we will all join together at the Pet Parade and Rotary Fine Art in the Park. I hope to see you there.

Kris CastoLos Altos City Councilwoman

Working together, schools can be safe

The recent tragedy in Littleton, Colo., will be etched in the consciousness of all students, parents and educators in our communities for a long time to come. As principals, we feel an extraordinary responsibility to keep our students safe so that they can focus on the business of school. We feel concerned that tragedy could strike in our communities. Yet it is important to recognize that, fortunately, we have not experienced the horror of Columbine High School.

Our schools are safe. We are dedicated to keeping them that way through the following principles and strategies. We are committed to:

Embracing and celebrating the diversity of our students;

Building strong learning communities in which all students are valued for the unique contributions they make to the learning process;

Setting high behavioral and academic expectations for all students;

Recognizing achievement at all levels;

Working closely with our students to ensure that all students have connections to helpful adults at school; and

Collaborating with local emergency services to help keep our campuses safe.

Parents are key partners in our effort to maintain an academic focus and to make certain that all students are safe and secure at school. We count on parents to:

Model and maintain the standard that conflict is best resolved through talking;

Teach their children to avoid the violence that permeates television, the movies, and video games;

Seek help if and when children become uncontrollable at home; and

Know where their children are and what they are doing.

Working together, educators and families can greatly reduce the probability that one of our communities will become the next Littleton.

Dave Brazer

Principal,

Los Altos High, representing group of Peninsula principals