It is hard to come home to something familiar when Los Altos is continuously changing. As the population grows, it is essential that our community make adjustments and let others in, but since when does change have to destroy?
As I sat home on my thanksgiving break, my first time back since I left for college, I was shocked to read the article discussing the possible relocation of the Doug Bassett Memorial at Egan Intermediate School (Town Crier, Nov. 24).
I was blown away by the idea of moving it, but even more so by the fact that it was supported by two of my old principals who had always shown such compassion for their students.
Doug was a remarkable young man whose leadership as student body president was only a preview of what he could have done had be been given the chance.
I drove by the memorial after Thanksgiving dinner, and my headlights gave an almost angelic glow to the rock memorial which has sat between three young trees for the past 10 years.
I have a simple solution. Move your building back five feet. This way, the building will still be built and the memorial will stay intact. It is that easy.
Moving the memorial is not only disrespectful but unnecessary. Yet if the people are behind the decision to move it want the message for our youth to be "We care about you until you get in the way," then go ahead and move it.
You have made it perfectly clear to this former student why he should not raise his kids in Los Altos.
Mike FriedmanLos Altos High, Class of '99
Important for preschools to remain
The following letter was sent to the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees and the Los Altos City Council.
It has meant a lot to my wife and I to be able have day care within our community without having to go to Sunnyvale or Palo Alto. It was one of the main reasons we considered this area when buying a home here in 1996.
When socializing with other parents, I have often felt glad that most of our daughters playmates and parents lived in the same area as we did. We often run into each other in the village or other parent/kid events, which gives us all a better sense of community
I believe facilities like New Horizons & Early Horizons should stay as close to where they have been as possible to Covington School when it is rebuilt.
This is the hub for our kids and families. Daycare-preschools should be looked at as an predecessor of elementary schools and therefore the same.
If a location is acceptable for an elementary school then it should be the same for daycare-preschools.
I heard some people do not want these facilities near their homes. I would be surprised if these same people lacked kids of their own or grandchildren. If they do have kids, then they have enjoyed the benefits of an entire community's support during those years
Please don't deny our children the opportunity to live near their daycare/preschool facilities. Please don't deny our daycare-preschool facilities the chance to run their businesses simply and easily, so they can concentrate on providing good care to our kids.
Chris DeMassaLos Altos
Agree with schools use only for local kids
In your Nov. 24 edition, two separate letters deal with the Los Altos School District plans to use Blach, Egan and Covington schools as pre-School facilities.
Mrs. Tsang of Los Altos Hills states that "traffic will be increased, but I do not think it will be a noticeable amount."
She did not supply the source for her comment, however I suggest she stop by any of the aforementioned schools now in session at 8-8:30 a.m. and at 2:50-3:15 p.m. and do a car count noting the cars backing up into the adjoining streets.
Certainly the traffic from the additional cars will not be noticed in Los Altos Hills where she lives, but please, give us low-landers a break!
Monique Stine of Los Altos stated she objects to the use of school sites for other than educating Los Altos children. Ms. Stine is right on!
For years classrooms and school facilities have been rented out to operations other than teaching Los Altos children.
For instance, Blach school has for the last five summers rented school facilities to the Spartan Athletic Club which has bused in approximately 250 children every weekday between July 1 and Aug. 30.
This endeavor pollutes our neighborhood air with autos and buses which we don't even have during the regular school year, and screaming instructors using bull-horns to supervise the outdoor activities which can be heard blocks away!
Quoting Ms. Stine, this is not what voters had expected when approving additional funds for our students.
Superintendent Marge Gratiot and her staff would do well to review and revise their plans for future letting of school properties.
R.J. RobertsLos Altos
Former Los Altos charm plundered
I must, regrettably, disagree with the assessment by Mayor John Moss that Los Altos is "a pretty town with a small town feel."
Our founding fathers imparted this ideal. Unfortunately, the same people who are purchasing property in Los Altos because of its rural, village-like atmosphere are ruining the landscape.
Our planning and council members continue to pile exception upon exception in granting approvals to build two-story houses.
The former Los Altos charm has been plundered.
It's time to complete the transition; that is, changing its face.
Plans for city-wide sidewalks and street lights now must be executed, as well as the elimination of street-side mail boxes.
Jerry KellyLos Altos
Helmets really do save lives
Our son has recovered from his injuries of Oct. 12 when he was struck by a car that ran a red light at Egan School. He passed his follow-up neurology exam with flying colors.
We would like to express our thanks to the many people who helped our family at this most scary time and who helped contribute to his recovery. The calls of support and prayers on the answer machine almost taxed its capabilities to the max.
The people at the scene of the accident did so much to insure a safe area in the midst of what must have been chaos. The doctors and nurses at Stanford emergency and Packard Children's Hospital's pediatric intensive care kept us informed after every test.
And lastly but most importantly, the Los Altos Police Department and especially Officer Brent Butler for securing Christopher a new helmet and bike so quickly.
Let us keep our community safe by continuing to drive carefully. We can keep our children safe by reminding them to wear their helmets properly on their heads not the handlebars.
Helmets really do save lives. Our miracle kid is out riding again and for that we are so very thankful.
Ralph and Donna McArthurLos Altos
Why vote for Measure H?
Re: Article, "Residents cite need for better services but don't want tax hike to pay for them," dated Nov. 10.
If the residents of Los Altos do not want to pay an increase in utility-user tax, then why did the majority vote for Measure H? By not voting for Measure I, how do the Los Altos residents expect to pay for the increased city maintenance and public safety services?
The population should expect to pay for Measure H somehow, therefore, I agree by implementing the utility tax is an intelligent manner to collect the city income in order to accomplish the project. Until the Tree Farm and Four Seasons generates revenue, we must have a way to pay for the expense.
Daniel SeddiquiLos Altos
Roots column recalled her roots
The delightful column on ancestral roots by Editor Emeritus David MacKenzie recalled idiosyncrasies in my Irish Connor/O'Connor clan. It might get a bit tense if O'Connors and Desmonds found themselves together since the O'Connors kidnapped the Earl of Desmond and returned him quite a bit worse for wear in several containers.
In retaliation, the English expelled the O'Connors from Northern Ireland banishing them to the rockiest soil they could think of-Southwestern Ireland. The fact that this occurred in 1583 has not dampened the indignation when present day O'Connors discuss it.
Our family has had its share of scoundrels, too. When Morris, also known as Andrew or Jimmy came visiting, my grandmother, May O'Connor, would hastily slam the door in his face announcing, "We're not home!" She accused him of having "sticky" fingers.
Then there was Uncle Dan, originally a con man, who repented and became first a distributor and later a district manager for No-Cal, the first low-calorie soda. Our family was afraid to drink it at first for fear it was made of sea sludge.
Uncle Dan was a poker-playing buddy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Georgia Summer White House We never dared ask how they'd met.
When asked the health of her family, my mother always replied, "They're fine - knock on wood." If there was no wood, she'd knock on her head. Imagine my wonder when I discovered this custom originated with the ancient Druids who worshipped the oak tree, one meaning of my name, Deirdre.
If you search for roots, you need to be prepared for what you'll find!
Deidre O'Connor
Los Altos