Hidden Villa changes are a ‘travesty’

Our family has been supporters of Hidden Villa for more than 30 years.

We have seen the transition from the leadership of the Duvenecks and their mission of environmental education to the wonderful facility and environmental leadership that the successive boards and directors of Hidden Villa have continued. Until now.

I have watched and read of the current board’s desire to change that direction. What a horrible travesty.

Environmental education has been the foundation upon which successive generations of Hidden Villa visitors and campers have built. But it seems to be no longer.

For me, the final straw that “forced” me to write this letter was the receipt of a postcard inviting me first to a reception for donors, and then another postcard to a series of summer concerts.

Summer concerts? What has this to do with Hidden Villa?

I’ve seen signs posted on local streets inviting the community to these concerts. Is this why Hidden Villa is so strapped for cash that the board and its executive director find it necessary to fire a wonderful staff of camp counselors and leaders? Is this why an amazing camp that has helped educate new generations of environmental leaders and caring graduates has been axed?

I think if Josephine Duveneck were to return to Hidden Villa today she would cry, “For shame.” My future donations to Hidden Villa will be earmarked for the 12-day overnight camp only.

Micki Miller

Mountain View

CSMA works to broaden community support

This week’s cover article (”Setting up camp in Los Altos,” July 5) provided valuable information about the impressive range of summer activities for children in our community.

We are indeed fortunate to live in an area where children have so many wonderful options and experiences.

As your article stated, the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center provides a diverse mix of music, visual and digital arts camps for kids in search of creative stimulation. Your article stated that the school “commits nearly half its funds to scholarships.”

To ensure that all children have access to our programs, we definitely provide tuition assistance and scholarships to many attendees. In fact, our goal is to dedicate approximately 10 percent of our budget to financial aid.

Although CSMA wishes that it were able to commit the amount reported in your article, this is not the current situation. However, each year we work to broaden our community support to ensure accessibility and arts for all.

We will continue to do this so that all children in search of creative stimulation can come to CSMA.

Susan McInnis

Interim Executive Director

Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center

Summer camps article helpful

I really enjoyed the article in this week’s paper (July 5) about summer camps.

I think that it was very informative and gave many great places where kids can go out and have fun and learn something at the same time. I thought it was great that you looked into so many different camps because not everyone enjoys the same activities. I feel that it would be an excellent idea if you did this every summer because it was so helpful.

Matt Ives

Los Altos

Redistricting folly ahead?

That large crashing sound you may have heard last week was not another downtown fender-bender. It was the sound of the falling real estate prices in the areas of Los Altos Hills served by the Palo Alto School District.

This is one of the many possible negative consequences of the proposed creation of a K-8 school district in Los Altos Hills.

According to Palo Alto School District Superintendent Mary Frances Callan, a K-8 school district will not send students into a K-12 district like Palo Alto. Instead of attending one of the best high schools in the country, students in Los Altos Hills will have to go elsewhere.

The leaders of this foolhardy enterprise will undoubtedly try to guarantee that this will not happen. Anyone following this debacle knows that the outcome is anything but predictable and guarantees are worthless.

The Los Altos Hills town council is about to open a Pandora’s box in their quest to create a new school district. Hopefully clearer heads will prevail once all the implications are explored.

Daniel J. Burns

Los Altos

Thanks for the memories

Great vignette on Covington and Filip roads, and Rancho Shopping Center beginnings (June 28 Town Crier).

Those were the days! I remember when those houses were being built.

I live in Galveston, Texas, but I am back in Los Altos frequently and am an avid reader of Los Altos Town Crier.

You need more stories like this one.

George H. Greeley

Galveston, Texas