Mayor has right to voice opinions

Eric Lutkin

I am writing regarding the flurry of letters and articles initiated by David Casas concerning the upcoming LASD election.

Whether you agree or disagree with his position we should all support the right of Mr. Casas, as a private individual, to comment openly about important issues before our community. Yes, he is the current mayor of Los Altos, but speaking as an individual and not as mayor, he should still be able to express his personal opinion on issues of importance to the public.

I personally find it refreshing that one of our community leaders is willing to take a clear, public position on an issue of substance to the community. I would encourage our other community leaders, be they elected officials or citizens, to do likewise, as the free and spirited discussion of the issues will make all of us better informed citizens and enable us to all contribute more to our community.

Griffin House should be restored

Bob Schick

I do not feel that the Griffin House should be demolished, nor moved from its original site. I would like the Griffin House to remain for the next thousand years for future generations of Santa Clara Valley residents and visitors to admire and enjoy.

I agree with John Baer’s last point in his Aug. 17 Los Altos Town Crier editorial that the Foothill-De Anza Community College District trustees should be provided a detailed rebuttal from the district staff refuting the lower cost analysis provided by the Friends of Griffin House.

Finally a public campaign to raise the financial difference between new construction vs. restoration should be announced in all major newspapers, with the firm commitment of the Foothill-De Anza board to restore the Griffin House publicly stated.

Incorporating the world-class architectural artistry of the Griffin House into the Foothill Campus design seems the best possible outcome; why is the district board willing to settle for less?

Let us not forget that public education is not an end in itself, but a means to improve the quality of life for the community. Preserving our community’s historic Griffin House will enhance the historical and visual richness of our community, therefore fullfilling the very reason we continue to fund public education.

If the original Griffin House cannot be used in combination with new buildings effectively, I recommend that the roof line of the Griffin House (top two floors), front porch and masonry be combined with an expanded first floor and basement extending from the back of the house, perhaps elevating the first floor to allow windows for the basement level and designing a parking surface which could exist on top of an extended basement.

‘Green Acres’ gal wants respite from dogs

E. Townsend

My husband says that I remind him of the character that Eva Gabor played on the TV sitcom “Green Acres.”

Gabor’s character, Lisa Douglas, was a sophisticated city girl who had a tough time adjusting to life on the farm. Well, I don’t don diamond drop earrings or fur coats when I head outdoors, but I have encountered a few bumps along my own personal road toward adjustment to life in Los Altos Hills since moving here from Chicago.

Naturally, I have encountered wildlife many times on or near my property. I’m happy to say that deer, raccoons, foxes, rabbits hawks and skunks, to name a few, are all abundant in my neighborhood.

I have found that residents here love their dogs. It is an impressive sight to see the many dog walkers each day dutifully waking with their dogs on leash and toting the requisite plastic poopy bags.

Los Altos and Los Altos Hills are indeed very canine friendly communities, but I have come to believe that many local dog owners are hearing impaired when it comes to their own dogs barking.

One of the things that my family and I were looking forward to when we moved to the hills was sleeping with our windows open to enjoy the fresh air and peace and quiet that our rural community provides.

Unfortunately, the peace and quiet is very often disturbed by the incessant barking of neighborhood dogs.

I can’t begin to count how many mornings I have been awakened at the crack of dawn by a barking dog or how many nights I have had to close my bedroom windows in frustration over the noise of a howling canine.

Dogs that bark continually are usually bored or in need of attention. So dog owners, this “Green Acres” gal is asking you to please give your pooch some attention so that I can get some sleep!