Publication Date: Friday Apr 17, 1998

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I think it is wrong to consider closing the neighborhood libraries. From my personal contacts, I know of many children who enjoy walking to the library. Please do not take away their opportunities from reading good books and acquiring new knowledge. Moreover, let them maintain their sense of belonging to a neighborhood library. It seems to me that big and modernized libraries will not be able to replace user-friendly and closely knit neighborhood libraries. Bill Shu Walter Hays Drive, Palo Alto

Serving a purpose

I believe the small neighborhood libraries should remain open. They serve a very, very useful purpose. I live on Laguna Oaks in Palo Alto, and I use the Terman Public Library and I would miss it very much if it were gone. Rhoda Elster Laguna Oaks, Palo Alto (By voice mail)

Don't close what we have

We do not need additional rooms full of computers. What we need are many smaller areas that are intimate and quiet enough so that one can sit down and read, which is, after all, one of the purposes of a library. It is not only to store information, it is to accommodate people. Don't close down what we have. If the other big libraries need some enlargement, let us do that for them, but don't take away the neighborhood branches. June Burndle Kingsley Avenue, Palo Alto (By voice mail)

Walking distance

I do not believe the city should close the libraries. It is important that libraries be within walking distance of where people live. With the new housing going in downtown, this is not the time to close the downtown library. I'm sure that the people in the neighborhoods of the other libraries to be closed don't want to lose their libraries either. I hope the city does not take that step. Sue Kemp Seale Avenue, Palo Alto (By voice mail) On Palo Alto flood:

It happened anyway

Those of us who were victims of the flooding of February 2 and 3 are not not the only people in Palo Alto who live in a flood plain. It's just that Palo Alto has undertaken measures to control the flooding for the other creeks, and what we hope for is control of flooding from San Francisquito Creek. In response to some of your writers I would like to point out that many of us who flooded, and we did totally, had flood insurance. We had sand bags. The sand bags were up and around the house, and we flooded anyway. People should know that. You can have all of those things in place and your house can still be full of mud and water. Marge Quackenbush Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto (By voice mail) On Bert Kay trial:

Supports judges decision

In response to trying the juveniles as adults in the Bert Kay murder trial: We only need to look at this week's headlines to realize that children are confused about the consequences of their behavior. We need to make an example here of saying--not in this community will children who come in from other communities who are under age and have a tendency toward violence, either emotional problems or gang related or social pressure, be allowed to come in here and victimize us, because they know they can get away with it. So I strongly support the judge's decision to try them as adults. They were doing an adult activity, they should have the same consequences and suffer the consequences just like an adult would. I hope this sends out a strong message to the other communities where these kids are coming in from, they cannot do this to our citizens. They should sit up and take notice and take more responsibility. Randy Johannson San Antonio Road, Palo Alto (By voice mail) On Leaf blowers:

More leaf blower problems

The president of the so-called Bay Area Gardener's Association--oddly, I think, a distributor for a debris blower manufacturer----has recently taken nearly $70,000 from his association members in exchange for 215 machines already banned in one Peninsula community, on the verge of being banned in another, and under consideration for banning in at least one more. The blowers he sells violate California Air Resources Board standards scheduled for implementation in 1999. Their manufacturer is opposing the standard on the grounds that they are impossible to meet, even though blowers made by competitors already conform. By persuading his members to make a large investment in obsolete machinery, this blower distributor profited personally, and he's swelled the ranks of those who have something to lose as blowers are increasingly banned, even as he claims to be advancing their interests. This man has betrayed those who trusted him to lead, and is content for the rest of us to choke on the filth his product spews into the air and onto our persons and belongings. Jeffrey Hook Bowdoin, Palo Alto On other subjects:

Who is responsible?

I was interested in reading that our local schools have a "zero tolerance" policy for guns in their schools; thank God, you had me worried for a while there. That policy would not have prevented what happened in Arkansas, nor would it have been of any consolation to the mothers and friends of the teacher and the children killed in that state, where kids are taught how to shoot and kill (animals) by their fathers and grandfathers. What kind of society do we live in where adults are held responsible for the consequences of not strapping their children in seat belts, but not for keeping weapons of destruction away from their offspring. Jan Aarts Lytton Ave, Palo Alto

Leaving legacy intact

I would like to publicly convey my gratitude to the Palo Alto City Council for voting to adopt strong protective measures for our valuable historic housing stock. In particular, Council members Wheeler, Mossar and Eakins deserve congratulations for speaking out wisely and courageously in setting aside staff recommendations that would have severely weakened preservation efforts by making compliance voluntary in most cases. We are extremely fortunate to have received a legacy of intact historic neighborhoods from the early 20th century, and I am happy to see that they will be preserved for the 21st century. Lucinda W. Abbott Lincoln Avenue, Palo Alto

Appropriate descriptions

I'd like to comment on two sports-related articles in the April 1 edition. Robert McCoy provided a considered, well-written note on Tara VanDerveer's ill-considered, apologized-for, media statements. Jay Borenstein described the Stanford men's basketball team's successful season, then commented that the entire team would be returning except for "little-used reserve Kamba Tshonyi" and reserve center Pete Van Elswyk. I believe the description of Kamba is belittling and in poor taste. While he did not get much playing time, he performed well when he was in and played significantly. The term "little used" also demeans all of the hours be devoted to the team during four years of practice. Referring to Kamba as a reserve guard would have been a more appropriate description of his role. Bud Rubin Paradise Way, Palo Alto

Offensive photograph

I am offended by the front page photograph (Friday, April 10) of Kristin Hersh. Surely there must be less provocative ways to draw attention to a talented woman. While the article points out she is a mother of three as well as a rock star, the picture does not convey any relevant information about her musical career. Does the Weekly believe it is necessary to show women in such poses in order to generate interest in articles and get attention? Your choice of photos makes one pause about sharing the newspaper with our children. Marcia Makino Orange Avenue, Menlo Park

Poor planning

It seems remarkable that the City is planning to close Rinconada pool during the summer for repairs or replacement. A summer or two ago it was also closed for resurfacing of the wading pool, which also seemed like remarkably poor planning. It would be useful to have some explanation about why the three months of June to August is the optimum time to close a swimming pool that is normally closed to recreational swimming for the 9 months of September to June. Construction of every other sort seems to proceed reasonably well in Palo Alto from September to June. I would like to add the fathers and grandparents that I've spoken with to the mothers that Nancy Neff has spoken with (Weekly, April 10) and ask on everyone's behalf that the pool be kept open this summer and that any construction be done in the "off season." Bob Simoni

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