Wildlife a danger to Hills residents

Obviously, Steve Bristow, in his letter to the editor in the Aug. 16 issue, did not carefully read the letter I wrote in the recent townwide newsletter sent out by the Los Altos Hills Civic Association. This letter can be viewed at our Web site, www.lahca.com.

As a resident since 1977 with an unfenced yard, I have loved the deer. As my letter stated, I have had baby fawns dancing in my backyard. When tree workers found a midsized deer in the back corner of my yard earlier this year, split in two with vultures flying in to feed, my opinion of deer changed dramatically. A cougar had to have killed the deer. Deer carry ticks and Lyme disease.

We have the right as residents to protect our property from wildlife that does not mix with domestic animals or our children. We don’t need fortresses, as Bristow mentioned, we need deer fencing. The town council should allow any resident to install deer fencing to protect their homes and property. The town should not encourage wildlife to come into our town with “corridors.”

I suggest that if Bristow wants to live with the wild animals such as deer, cougars, bobcats, coyotes and rattlesnakes, let him move to the wilderness. Los Altos Hills is a diversified, semirural community with families and children, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, cows, horses and other domestic animals. We have the right and responsibility to protect them.

Toni Casey

President, Los Altos Hills

Civic Association

Take more pride in golfer Inkster

I read your article about Juli Inkster falling to fourth place at the Women’s British Open in the Aug. 9 edition of Town Crier. I was very disappointed by how you described her fourth place finish in a negative way.

We should be proud of her finish, in that she was one of 154 players in one of the four major golf tournaments in the world. She is still one of the top women players in the world. Our town should be prouder to honor her achievement, and it deserved a better write-up.

Lisa Mitchell

Los Altos

City also needs Adventure Toys

As executive director of the Los Altos Village Association, I would like to write in support of your editorial published in the Aug. 16 edition of the Town Crier regarding the difficulties Adventure Toys owner Leslie Chiaverini is experiencing with the city of Los Altos regarding the expansion of her store.

Successful businesses, such as Adventure Toys, are not only needed in our downtown for our community but also by the city of Los Altos, as they are a valuable and much-needed source of sales-tax revenue. The city should be concerned that some of its policies, while undoubtedly well-intentioned, may be such a detriment to the success of existing businesses that not only will store owners consider relocating, but potential businesses will hesitate to locate stores in our town due to what could be perceived as an “anti-business” attitude on the part of the city.

Concern over a mere 95 square feet here or a remodeled doorway there will be a moot point if there are no stores in town healthy enough to stay, much less expand.

Unfortunately, Adventure Toys will not be able to enjoy increased sales during the holiday season due to the unfortunate unfolding of events in this situation, but we hope the city will revisit the regulations for nonconforming uses and future expansions of healthy businesses will not be hindered unnecessarily.

Nancy Dunaway

Executive Director

Los Altos Village Association