September 09, 2005

Back to the table of Contents Page

Classifieds

Palo Alto Online

ReaderWire

Anyone visiting the Downtown Library will see that in preparation for the move of Tech Services from Main to Downtown, the public part of the Downtown Library has been reduced to little more than a book drop.

Library Director Paula Simpson's plan to move to a grandiose showplace library instead of improving neighborhood libraries is therefore well on its way, with tacit approval by City Council. All this in the face of repeated expressions by the community, as well as by the City Council itself, of preference for viable neighborhood libraries.

It has been obvious all along what the intentions of the director are and this latest move provides clear confirmation. What will eventually happen now is that figures will be produced to show the poor usage of the dismal library facilities that remain, and the downtown branch will be closed.

The modus operandi of the director and city mirrors that of the bunch of greedy incompetents who comprise the so-called Bush "administration." The technique is to smile and keep expressing support for a program or a direction whilst at the same time doing the very opposite or cutting funding.

It is amazing, sad and quite disturbing how for the most part both the media and the public seem to acquiesce in such shenanigans, both nationally and locally.

Let's hope that the current direction on the libraries can still be reversed in November by electing council members who recognize the public desire for safe, walkable neighborhoods and viable neighborhood services.
Walter Sedriks
Waverley Street, Palo Alto

A 'keppling' family

When my family with two young children moved to this area in 1975, we quickly coined a new word for an activity that became a favorite for all of us: "keppling" or "to kepple."

Every time we went out to dinner or to a movie, instead of eating ice cream, we would all say: "Let's go kepple!" and eagerly rush to this wonderful bookstore, each to their favorite section.

My children are now grown and I am a grandmother, but they still love "keppling" when here. I happily introduced my two grandsons to the joy of it as well.

We turned into a family that derives great pleasure from roaming through bookstores, finding far too many books to buy as our eyes roamed the displays and shelves. Amazon.com just isn't the same experience.

Say it isn't so. Cafˇ Barrone's will lose a major incentive for having lunch there.
Judith Fielding Fernandez
Trinity Drive, Menlo Park

Lucky local shopper

If I want to buy a present for a friend, my own street in Palo Alto provides it all. Common Ground, JJ&F, Klutz and the fairly traded goods company, WorldCentric -- all on College Avenue -- have candles, cards, books, tools, toys, olive oil, nuts, wine, hats, jewelry, crafts, honey and t-shirts.

Within walking distance there's the big stuff: bikes, ceramics, yoga mats, CDs, shoes, etc. If I'm broke, the second-hand bookstore fills the bill. With the holidays coming up, most of us could easily avoid the Costco chaos and the Macy's scrum, stop wasting gas and just shop locally.

Pretty lucky, huh?
Margaret Allen
Cornell Street, Palo Alto

Short, hot summer

Like many families, we moved to Palo Alto for the schools. We feel the quality of the public education and the many other services in Palo Alto are worth the higher housing costs.

However, we've had to make changes in our budget to manage this. One thing we've done is to cut out expensive family trips in favor of camping locally and in the Sierras. This is fun and inexpensive and offers us great "family time" together.

It is also best done in the summer.

It irks me that my summer camping time was cut short in favor of "ski week" in February, a time when many families are still struggling with Christmas and winter-vacation debt. My family will certainly not be heading to a cabin in Tahoe, or Aspen or Gstaad for that week.

We would prefer to stay in school in February and stay in the mountains in August.
Alice Engelmore
South Court, Palo Alto

E-mail a friend a link to this story.