By Send letters to editor Bruce Barton at the Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022, or e-mail: bruceb@latc.com.

How about a pool in south Los Altos?

The long unresolved issue of placement of a neighborhood pool may need a fresh perspective.

I, for one, would like to see a pool down here in south Los Altos. We have two empty lots adjoining a park on the corner of Fremont Avenue and Grant Road, where a very convenient gas station used to stand.

Reorganizing the layout of the park, and tennis courts, along with that corner property could give us a nice pool/park combination.

Imagine taking your children to swimming lessons and then having a picnic lunch in the adjoining park. That’s picturesque small-town life to me.

I currently take my children to a neighborhood pool in another city. I’d like for them to feel more connected to their hometown, but I’m afraid they will be all grown up before the pool issue can be resolved.

Lisa Ricketts

Los Altos

Don’t punish the children

During this year of divisive views concerning schools, we unfortunately have people who are so frustrated with the school district that they are childishly withholding donations to the Los Altos Educational Foundation, which is a totally independent volunteer group of parents and community members who unselfishly donate their time and money so that our children can have more opportunity than the state can afford.

Yet these same people who withhold from LAEF do not protest having their own children participate in those music, art, PE and technology classes funded in the current year by the parents and community members who do contribute to LAEF.

Because they are frustrated with the school board’s disingenuous inconsistencies they would like to “make a statement” by not donating to LAEF and causing classes to fold; but it is only the children who get hurt. There may be reasons to be upset by various board actions, but the children have to come first. I hope that we can all make a statement by contributing even more heavily this year to LAEF, a sterling organization that authorizes specific enrichment classes under the auspices and very close audits of LAEF board parent representatives. Not contributing to LAEF will not make any statement to the school board whatsoever. It only hurts the children.

Let’s pull together as a community and support our schools! Please visit www.laefonline.org!

Dave Pefley

Los Altos Hills

How is vacant better than occupied?

Every Wednesday, I open the Town Crier and expect to be annoyed by an article about the iron-fisted government of this city (excuse me, village) overturning this, banning that and not allowing just about anything in regards to downtown Los Altos.

Can someone please tell me how an empty, abandoned storefront with a “For Rent” sign in the window enhances downtown more than a Quiznos might? And now we have a potential ban on non-retail businesses to preserve the “mom-and-pop” environment downtown.

This is 2003, not 1953. Mom and pop retired and moved to Florida - or they are knocking on Bandera’s door at noon wondering why they aren’t open for lunch.

One million dollars for parking? I think that is a little steep for a restaurant that actually brings people to Los Altos, a place where you can find more than 10 people gathered at once downtown.

The council should be happy that there are companies, chains, franchises and people who actually want to do business in this city.

Will Hansen

Los Altos

Quick action by police recovers stolen bike

I wanted to share a story in praise of the Los Altos Police Department. On Nov. 19, my son’s bike was stolen from the Egan campus of Santa Rita Elementary School.

My son went to the police department to file a report. Within about a minute of filling out papers, the police dispatcher told him the police had found his bike. They were able to apprehend the person who stole the bike, and shortly after, my son was reunited with his bike and helmet.

Bravo LAPD! And thanks again for being so kind to my son.

Kim Hunter

Los Altos

Concerned over Patriot Act

I am very concerned about our loss of liberty that has occurred as a result of the U.S. Patriot Act. As Al Gore stated in an address last week, “It makes no more sense to launch an assault on our civil liberties as the best way to get at terrorists than it did to launch an invasion of Iraq to get to Osama bin Laden.”

Federal agents were given new authority to secretly enter homes, monitor attorney-client conversations and ask librarians for records.

Educating ourselves about this issue is critically important and the Patriot Act and Civil Liberties Forum on Dec. 4 at the Hillview Center in Los Altos is a good way to do this.

Barbara Kyser

Los Altos