LETTERS LETTERS (July 07, 2004)

Grateful for fire district training

Editor:

I want to thank the Menlo Park fire district for the excellent Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training I recently received and to encourage others to sign up for upcoming free classes in Menlo Park and Atherton.

This training in earthquake preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical skills, light search and rescue, and teamwork was very helpful. Where else could one practice techniques to use a fire extinguisher on a real fire, turn off a gas meter, evacuate the injured, and have the opportunity to ask a myriad of questions directly to fire department personnel?

I recommend CERT training to everyone in Menlo Park, Atherton or East Palo Alto who cares about their community and wishes to prepare for future emergencies.

The next CERT classes will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday nights in Menlo Park from July 8 to Aug. 12 and on Wednesday nights in Atherton from Sept. 22 to Oct. 27. Enrollments are limited and pre-registration is highly recommended. For more information contact Carol Parker at the fire district at 650-688-8415 or cert@menlofire.org.

Kathy Goodell
Willow Road, Menlo Park

What rationale for building child-care center?

Editor:

According to City Council member Mickie Winkler's letter in the June 23 Almanac, most Menlo Park parents prefer that child care be provided on-site at their children's schools. The advantages of this approach are many:

** The $2 million earmarked for the proposed child-care center at Burgess would be restored to the city's general fund, erasing nearly 89 percent of this year's projected shortfall in the general fund of $2.24 million.

** Measure T funds earmarked to build the child-care center ($1.6 million according to Ms. Winkler) could be used to improve parks and recreation facilities used by all the children of the city -- not just the roughly 185 children using daycare.

** Taxpayers would benefit by maximizing the use of taxpayer-funded schoo1 facilities (already paid for) instead of duplicating costs by building another taxpayer-funded child-care center at Burgess.

** The children in daycare would benefit by having access to a quality program integrated at their familiar school sites.

So, the question becomes, what is the rationale for the city building the daycare center at Burgess? I do not see any.

Paula Maurano
Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park

Sad to see July 4 Little League game lost

Editor:

I do not have any children who currently or previously played Little League baseball in Menlo Park. My daughters chose other athletic paths; but I played and coached Little League in this town in the 1960s.

In my view the Alpine Little League's decision to forgo the Menlo Park championship to save the arms of a few players on their top team who are talented and skilled enough to warrant selection to the all-star team is at best short-sighted and at worst incredibly self-serving. And yes, this is yet another testament to a primary affliction affecting all youth sports -- the endless meddling of adults living out their fantasies through their children.

Little League Baseball's official Web site, when it addresses its mission, contains the following statement:

"By espousing the virtues of character, courage and loyalty, the Little League Baseball program is designed to develop superior citizens rather than superior athletes."

I suggest that Ms. Brown, when "trying to convene a group of people to figure out what to do in the future," review the entire Little League mission statement. Because this year Alpine swung and missed when it came time to step to the plate and deal with character, courage and loyalty. And in baseball, three strikes mean you're out.

Tim Johnston
Creek Drive, Menlo Park

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