Summer 2019 is here, and, of course, we’re all thumbs.

• Thumbs-up: To the actual start of work on a new Hillview Communty Center. Demolition and construction will soon begin on a 24,500-square-foot, $34.7 million center to replace old, run-down facilities that formerly housed an elementary school many years ago. Estimated time for completion is December 2020. After decades of talking about it, Los Altos is finally getting something done.

Student pinpoints dangerous intersection

My name is Alex and I am 14 years old. I am writing to you to tell you my feelings about the Fallen Leaf Lane/Homestead Road intersection.

I live on Fallen Leaf Lane and I use this intersection every day. It is not safe whatsoever. There aren’t lights. There are only things that flash on the ground and on a sign when a person tries to use the crosswalk.

The Los Altos Women’s Caucus and others hosted a forum June 4 in an attempt to establish facts about Bullis Charter School and the Los Altos School District.

Students: Mobilize for climate change bill

The Los Altos High students who marched for climate change are heroes and should be given the keys to the city of Mountain View. In all seriousness, today’s youth give me hope for tomorrow’s future, because they are aware, alarmed and taking action to make their voices heard.

Engaged citizen volunteers from across the U.S. are also alarmed about climate change and will be converging on Washington, D.C., Tuesday to speak with more than 500 congressional offices to gain support for a bipartisan bill: the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR 763). This bill in the House of Representatives will put a price on carbon pollution resulting in a reduction of carbon emissions by 33% relative to 2015 levels within a decade, and by 90% by 2050.

“Hi, Jackie, this is Bruce Barton of the Los Altos Town Crier. I want to talk to you about this piece you just wrote.”

The year was 2010. My first book, “My Life in a Tutu,” had recently been published and for some strange reason, the powers that be at the Relay For Life cancer fundraiser thought I could do the marketing for the cause. I’d never done something like this before and I wasn’t sure I was up to the task. Hearing his voice, my stomach immediately churned, for I was sure he hated it and wanted a redo. Self-esteem has never been strong on my list of accomplishments.

Have you ever borrowed a best-seller from the library? Taken a child to story hour at the library? Sat in the chairs to browse a magazine at the library? The services you enjoy have been given to the Los Altos Library by the volunteer group Friends of the Library of Los Altos, and this support may be coming to an end.

The volunteer group collects, sorts, stores and sells books to raise money to augment the library’s programs and services. The organization finances most of the children’s programs, including story hour. It purchases the best-seller books for us to borrow. It purchases new furniture when it is needed. It operates the cafe in the lobby. It has donated on average $170,000 with no strings attached over the last two years to the library.