Proud moment for Los Altos
Ron Labetich
Los Altos
Los Altos pride was at its finest at the Relay for Life Event at Los Altos High School on June 26th.
The 200 cancer survivors that participated were the heart and soul of the 24-hour relay. Their energy and enthusiasm was impressive and will remain with me forever. And the camaraderie among residents, friends, volunteers and sponsors made this a very, very special day and night.
Better fuel efficiency needed
Matthew Savage, age 18
Mountain View
America must increase the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles.
We now have the technology for automobiles with fuel efficiency standards of 60-80 miles per gallon through the use of hybrid engines and other technologies. Yet the average fuel efficiency of cars are almost as low as the Model T Ford.
It is important that we take steps today to change this. With increasing gas prices and reliance on Middle Eastern oil sources, there are numerous reasons to increase our nation’s fuel efficiency standards.
Our gas-guzzling ways are making poor families pay more at the pump and putting our soldiers abroad into harm’s way. And as demand for oil from emerging economies continues to increase, we need to demonstrate restraint before it is too late.
Our Congress should enforce and strengthen CAFE (Corporate Automobile Fuel Economy) standards instead of letting them get away with loopholes.
For a healthier environment and sensible foreign policy, we must act now.
‘The promise of nightmares’
Ken and Margaret Kwan
Los Altos Hills
We have a different opinion about the June 15, 2004 article on “the ending of the dismal saga” of the Winbigler property.
There is no doubt that Pinewood School is a fine institution for education. Yet it is rather difficult for a lot of us to accept a junior and senior high school at this site.
It will be extremely inconvenient for local residents. Neighbors think that to have Pinewood School at the Winbigler property is more like a promise of nightmares.
There will definitely be issues on proximity to Bullis Elementary School, noise caused by events at two schools, traffic, safety, degradation of lifestyle of nearby residences and the devaluation of nearby homes.
According to the Los Altos Hills Town Charter, it demands that all new buildings be compatible with adjacent land uses and preserving the rural atmosphere and existing residential character of the town.
There is also the question of whether Fremont Road can handle a third school.
In fact, the neighbors would certainly oppose and would use all legal means available to prevent Pinewood’s plans to put a junior and senior school at that site.
The original rural pastoral setting of the land will surely be ruined.
Because the LAH Council is concerned about its citizens’ view and its codes, it likely will not approve this proposal.
Raging Grannies say thank you
Maxine Eggerth
Cupertino
On Saturday afternoon, June 26, a group of Raging Grannies gathered at Century 16 Theater in Mountain View to thank the theater management for showing the film “Fahrenheit 9/11″ which had just opened.
Since many theaters around the country had bowed to pressure not to show this film, the Grannies were pleased that our theater was not bowing to this pressure and we wanted to express our gratitude by singing.
One of the grannies had made a large poster thanking the management for their stand. As the Grannies launched into their repetoire and handed out copies of their song sheets so bystanders could join in, more and more people did just that. And then to the complete amazement of the Grannies, people began to come up and deposit money at our feet, even to the extent of $5 bills and a $20 bill.
Now, the Grannies don’t sing for money - we do it for our convictions of fighting injustice and oppression and exposing political misbehaviors.
Our songs are written mostly by members of other Granny groups around the country and Canada (where the Grannies originated).
Our Granny group was truly touched by the enthusiastic reception of waiting moviegoers and the monetary donations. We have no way of knowing where all these donors come from, but we want to voice our thanks in this paper and some of the other local papers.
Such reception spurs us on to continue bringing our message and our songs to a public that embraces us so wholeheartedly.
If the Granny group can contribute to a “kinder, gentler” world which we desire fervently and bring a smile to people’s faces at the sight of these older ladies in granny garb, aprons and ridiculous hats, we are accomplishing our sincere aim in appearing before the public.
Thank you, public, for your wonderful reception.
