Congratulations to the 305 students (plus siblings and parents) who walked or rode to Loyola Elementary in conjunction with Walk A Child To School Day. Normally, only about 20 percent of our students walk or ride to school. But last Wednesday's walk achieved a fantastic 57 percent. I hope many of you discovered how enjoyable it can be for parents and children to spend healthy, active time together doing the world's simplest exercise - walking.
Many of the families formed groups to help them better deal with traffic. This was especially evident along Magdalena. Groups are more visible to traffic and in a sense, there is safety in numbers.
A special thanks to the Los Altos Police Department and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department for their presence and support. Also, my thanks for the residents along Berry Avenue and Golden Way for their support of the Be An Angel - Drive 25 campaign.
Bill CrookLoyola Walk A Child To School Day Coordinator
We thought 'Fisher' was a given for park
Many of us longtime History House docents were dismayed when we learned there was to be a contest to name our new park.
We thought it was a given that it would be named for our founder, Audrey Fisher. We wrote and called members of the council.
We were told that perhaps we could name the road off San Antonio to History House Audrey Fisher Way, or name a room in the new education building for her.
Our reasons for thinking Mrs. Fisher was worthy of having the park named for her are: 1) She was our first woman mayor;
2) She was responsible for the Smith house becoming History House Museum;
3) She worked to preserve as much of the apricot orchard as possible when the Civic Center was built;
4) When San Antonio Road was widened, she crafted the plans for a park at the entrance to our town.
Frances Maas, JoAnne O'Briant, Lee LynchLos Altos
Project was not second-story addition
An article on page 4 of the Sept. 29 issue of the Town Crier caught the attention of this long-time resident of Laverne Way.
Contrary to the article, the project in question is NOT a second story addition. It is a tear-down, a scraper, with a very large new house plus a second living unit to be built.
Regarding the absence of opposition to this project, this was due to the fact that no advance notice was given that this matter would be discussed. Otherwise there would have been considerable opposition expressed, particularly regarding the SLU.
I do not know how the two persons who spoke in favor of the SLU knew about the Sept. 14 council meeting.
I would advise any residents who might be adversely affected by a similar "dream house" and/or an SLU to keep a very close watch on the agenda of the City Council.
Shirley MadisonLos Altos
Library honor deserved, but parking an issue
The national number two spot for the Santa Clara County library system (Town Crier, Sept. 29) is well deserved. Those of of us who have voted again and again for its financial support know that our money has been well spent, and we appreciate the leadership that has always nurtured the library's well-being and given us such pleasure.
Which brings me to a current problem: The parking area, which is ample for users. But the main Los Altos Library lot has become congested, indeed nearly full, all day long, even in the morning when there are few people in the library. I have discussed this with library personnel, and they are puzzled by it. I am not. It is being used for all- day parking by business people from the surrounding area.
I don't have an immediate solution to suggest, but some sort of policing needs to occur. I hope your commission can come up with an answer. In any case, shame on the freeloaders.
Marjorie EvansLos Altos Hills
Maintenance facility inappropriate
We feel the proposed plans for the maintenance facility at Covington Elementary School site are totally inappropriate.
We strongly object to moving it down the fence 100 yards to make room for district office buildings and parking, eliminating a good portion of the Covington mini park in the process. This can't be considered any more than a quick fix for the problem of the maintenance facility.
Not one school district has its maintenance facility on an elementary school site, and the majority have them totally separate from any school's property. In 1985 Covington School was closed as an elementary school, and the district offices and maintenance yard were relocated at Covington without so much as a public or neighborhood hearing on the matter.
The district already subcontracts out some of the maintenance functions. Why not all of them? As neighbors, taxpayers, and concerned citizens we would like to see a cost analysis comparing subcontracting all of the maintenance functions.
The notion of destroying the most attractive part of the Covington mini park was raised several times at the public meeting held Sept. 13. One of the responses given was that "this is school property" - the implication being that whatever the school deems to be in its best interest takes precedent over any community concerns.
We would respectfully remind all involved in the decision-making process that it is the community's tax dollars that support our schools and parks and unnecessarily eliminating a much-used and much-loved community asset should be reason enough to consider alternative solutions to a problem that has little to do with educating our children.
Dan and Elaine Moore
Los Altos