ReaderWire ReaderWire (December 19, 2003)

Scotish Web surfer

I have just added your Palo Alto Online to my "favorites" page as I found you by accident, I found it interesting and informative, sitting here in the Highlands of Scotland on a dreich day (sorry, using local terms. It means it's raining a fine mist that soaks you, but you don't feel it on your face, the sky is dark grey and so heavy looking you think it will fall) with similar weather to yourselves.

However, it's 2:30 a.m. with you and it's 10:30 p.m. here. Thank you for allowing me to drop in to your town.

P.S., I do hope they find the dog that needs medicine. Robbie Roberts Birchwood Avenue, Scotland
Traffic proposal

Without passing judgment about the various traffic-calming measures currently under scrutiny in Palo Alto (either collectively or specifically), I have a modest proposal that I hope our city and police leadership will consider.

How about assigning more police, community service officers and crossing guards to the most heavily trafficked roadways during the peak traffic times at morning and evening rush hours? If law enforcement officers are assigned, this duty could become a profit center from the tickets they would issue. Certainly the safety on such roads will be enhanced.

It may not generate as many letters to the editor, but it could go a long way toward meeting an objective of traffic safety that our collective community shares. Paul A. Losch Lincoln Avenue, Palo Alto
Don't start over

I strongly support the traffic calming trial and would hate to start all over. Paul Ward-Dolkas Everett Avenue, Palo Alto
Corridor supporter

I recently received a letter from a fellow South Palo Alto resident bringing to my attention the planned downsizing of the "Charleston/Arastradero Corridor." He asked that I voice my opposition to this plan, but on the contrary, I fully support it.

As the days grow longer into spring and the temperatures rise a few degrees, I anticipate I will regularly be biking to work (near the California Avenue CalTrain station). My intended path would take me along Charleston Road (from Louis Road to Middlefield Road), so I have a direct interest in this.

Currently I drive this stretch (all the way down to Alma Street), but would gladly sacrifice a slight bit of motorized convenience for a vast improvement in non-motorized convenience. I am pleased to see the City Council acting on behalf of all Palo Alto residents -- not just those who prefer the use of cars. Doug Taylor Gailen Avenue, Palo Alto
Naming a neighborhood

Regarding your upcoming edition of "Palo Alto Neighborhoods" and the piece written by Martin Nobida in your July 25 paper on the Palo Alto neighborhood with no name.

Bordered by Alma Street, Middlefield Road, E. Meadow Drive and Loma Verde Avenue, it is not entirely true, as stated, that the neighborhood, apart from Alma Plaza, is entirely without landmarks.

Barron Creek dissects the neighborhood and is an easily identifiable geographical landmark. Personally I dislike the suggestion, stated in the article, of "South of Midtown" as a neighborhood name. We could just as easily be described as north, west or east of any of our neighbors.

If not already taken, I propose "Barron Creek Neighborhood" as our moniker. After all, it is a permanent geologic fixture, can never be torn down and is unlikely to be renamed. As our neighborhood appears to lack citywide identity, I feel we could also benefit from our own neighborhood association. J. "Sue" Griffiths Loma Verde Avenue, Palo Alto

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