Common sense should prevail on Home Depot plan
      Living in Thousand Oaks close to the former Kmart for 18 years, I've watched this location slowly deteriorate with the vacancy of small stores to the anchor tenant. The city has lost revenue from sales taxes, the county from real estate taxes, and the citizens have an eyesore.
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Home Depot traffic will be excessive
      I'm writing to let you know I'm very happy about the new environmental impact report (EIR) required for the Home Depot project on Hampshire Road. I travel that way three times a week, making a left turn to Willow Road.
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Less traffic than Kmart? No way
      For those of us who attended the environmental impact report meeting for the Home Depot project on Monday night, July 16, we found ourselves awash in a weird, Kafkaesque senario where "Figures don't lie, but liars figure."
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City and park district need input on Rancho Potrero
      Having just finished working with a focus group on the Rancho Potrero property at the southwestern part of the Conejo Valley, it seemed timely to remind the public that Conejo Recreation and Park District and city of Thousand Oaks purchased this beautiful open space and are looking for public input on its current and future use.
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'Smart growth' isn't smart for Rancho Potrero
      So exactly what is the vision for Thousand Oaks? Whatever the circle of people I come in contact with, the answer has always been that they came here for the close, small community, countrylike environment. Many came to escape the congestion and crowding of the San Fernando Valley with all the negative impacts that overdevelopment usually bring.
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Trustee wants feedback from the public regarding school closure plan
      The school district doesn't have to close as many as three or more elementary schools to balance the budget (July 19 Thousand Oaks Acorn , "District wants residents' input about ideal school enrollment").
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Let's harshly fine people who don't pick up after dogs
      Regarding the letter on filthy playgrounds ( T.O. Acorn , July 11), Jennifer Levin, you are right on. For years I've been saying that the name of this town should be changed to Thousand Turds. Everywhere you walk in the neighborhoods of this city you will see pile after pile after pile of dog poop.
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Maybe the city of Thousand Oaks should have its own police department
      Regarding your article "City budgets for big projects, freezes some jobs" (June 21 T.O. Acorn ), the Ventura County Sheriff's Department is seeking $2.8 million in additional funding from the board of supervisors, and Sheriff Bob Brooks is threatening to close East Valley Station for the second time if additional funding isn't approved.
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James Street left a deep impression on scorekeeper
      I just want to let you know how moving Stephen Dorman's article was for me ("Street left an unforgettable legacy at Conejo Valley Little League," T.O. Acorn , July 19). I was the scorekeeper that day. It was truly an amazing feat. Luckily for me, I did get to briefly meet James Street.
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Don't let this war end like Vietnam
      Some people in our country have attempted to describe Iraq as a carbon copy of Vietnam. More important, perhaps, is not what Iraq is but what it could be. One thing is painfully clear to me.
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Iraqis should be grateful to U.S.
      In response to the July 19 letter to the editor from Percy H. Severn who was concerned about how the Iraqi people will feel toward Americans after 40 years because of the Iraq war.
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