Editorials

Can Main Street handle this much new growth?

The assessment by the Professional Library Consultants didn't tell Los Gatans anything they didn't already know. The current library facility is woefully inadequate to provide modern library services to Los Gatans.

Using focus groups and meetings, the consultants also learned Los Gatans like the library right where it is.

That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that the current location is best for a new or greatly expanded structure.

Leaving the library where it is could require building a second story on the Civic Center parking lot.

Add to the big new library and parking structure, the fact that Dave Flick is proposing a new building on E. Main Street, and a good-sized hotel--the story poles near Town Hall suggest the Los Gatos Hotel will be imposing--is about to be built. And Old Town is nearing completion.

Clearly the community is in need of greatly expanded library facilities, but to build a case around keeping it at or near its current location, just because that's what people said in focus groups, may be myopic.

The question that must be answered: Is the present location the best place for a major expansion of the library given all the other growth slated for the area?

Show and Tell

The poor Lyndon carriage house cupola. It's been neglected, saved (several times), restored, relocated--and now fought over. Sue Farwell, who wants to put it on top of her mixed-use building at 223 W. Main St., has a claim; her late husband, Jim Farwell-- great-grandson of John W. Lyndon on whose carriage house the cupola originally sat--saved it from demolition.

The Los Gatos Community Foundation also has a legitimate claim. The organization restored it and guided it to its current home in Oak Meadow Park.

Several councilmembers would like to see the architectural feature on a building, but there are concerns it would block views of the hillside on Farwell's building.

Farwell and Community Foundation members all say their goal is to put the cupola where the community can enjoy it. If that's truly the goal, it can best be accomplished by separating the aesthetics from the emotions.

Farwell should put up story poles and provide photo simulations to show what the addition would look like from various parts of downtown before any further discussion of the subject.

If it seems to tower over the town and look ridiculous, it will be clear how the town should respond. On the other hand, if it appears it would make a charming historic addition to downtown, well, that's another matter.

Police Report

Carl Heintze defends lawyers

Photo: Community Read-In

Photo: Sidesaddle & Co. appear at Woodhaven West

New in Town: East on Main

Picture From the Past: Residents once welcomed paying boarders

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos dominates at Stanford Invitational

Individual Wildcat swimmers star, but team loses

Los Gatos Little League

LG baseball, tennis, golf, volleyball