LETTERS LETTERS (January 11, 2006)

Neighbor glad to see eucalyptus trees go

Editor:

I live opposite the Siebel property in Woodside. I am a private person, not taken to writing letters to newspapers, but I would like my voice heard, if by any small chance it might have some influence in such matters as the debate over cutting down old, non-native trees.

I've recently become aware of the argument over the matter, and personally I'm wondering about how change seems to bring out either reactionary or progressive tendencies in people. I'm of the latter camp. I think the Siebel plan is laudable, and that in 10 or 20 years time, when their native restoration program is really being felt and seen, we won't be hearing much from the nay-sayers on all this.

How wonderful to use the power of having significant money in such a positive way. (I wonder if radical environmental thinking may become mainstream politics somewhere around the middle of this century, when the devastation of environments, ecologies and species makes itself finally and agonizingly felt. We lose so much. Soon it won't be abstract, but something that affects everything we do.)

I would personally like to say, huzzah! for the Siebel's vision (just see it through, please), and huzzah! for the granting of the permit (just make sure they see it through, please.)

The clearance itself offers beauties that people seem blind to: the rings of redwoods that have been revealed, and the sculptural forms of a number of multi-trunk growths are a delight to me and my family every day. People also seem blind to what this really means, which is ultimately a restoration of the trees of our native environment.

Additionally, the work done over the summer was hugely entertaining -- it was quite the spectacle, watching the teams at work and the different swathes of sky and land revealed every day.

It was sad to watch the big eucalyptus come down. I felt that too. But -- forgive my cliché -- you have to break eggs to make omelets. And thank you Ralph Osterling (Almanac op-ed article, December 28). I think you're quite right. I am very relieved to have that extra degree of fire hazard so close to my home, gone.

Deborah Beale

Portola Road, Woodside

Another vote for taking down eucalyptus trees

Editor:

I wanted to write in response to the December 7 Almanac article about cutting down 99 trees on the Siebel's Portola Road property.

We live directly across from this property, on Phillip Road in Woodside. I have to say that the trees have been an obvious menace to the street (and our house) and have clearly crowded out the indigenous trees along Portola Road.

The best thing the Town of Woodside and the Siebels have offered the street and community is to bring down those trees and replant with oaks.

We did the same thing eight years ago. Our property along Portola Road was littered with old, dead, burned, and some overgrown eucalyptus trees, which clearly caused a fire hazard. Woodside was very supportive of us removing them. Today, you will see an entire tree-line of beautiful live oaks that we planted as replacements standing in their place.

Eucalyptus are dangerous trees, particularly at the height they were on Portola Road. More than once, they dropped large branches in the middle of the night, blocking the road and causing potential danger to motorists.

We applaud the town's foresight in thinking ahead about compatible trees in Woodside, and ridding us of the predatory, menacing eucalyptus.

Paul and Robin Smith

Phillip Road, Woodside

Elation, anger at Sand Hill improvements

Editor:

Each time (which is often)I go through the remodeled Santa Cruz Avenue--Sand Hill Road area I feel two emotions.

The first is one of elation at the wonderful job Stanford did in planning and timely executing the changes with a minimal amount of inconvenience to us drivers.

The second emotion is one of anger. That is caused by the realization that this could have been done five, or so, years ago except for the short-sidedness and stubbornness of the Menlo Park City Council, along with the help of the Palo Alto City Council. This delay probably created additional cost to Stanford of around $1 million.

Now that the western end of Sand Hill at Santa Cruz is completed, and well done, perhaps it is time for Palo Alto to realize the eastern end at Alma-El Camino-Sand Hill needs modifications to make it as efficient as the western end.

Of course they have a new council member who I recall said 10 years ago that "Sand Hill will be widened over my dead body." Well, he is still alive and Sand Hill has been widened. Perhaps over that time he has learned that as we grow some things must change.

Daniel H. Goodman

Trinity Drive, Menlo Park

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