Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

Barbershoppers provided a night of entertainment

On behalf of the more than 60 students in the Los Gatos High School Wildcat Marching Band, I would like to extend a sincere thank-you to all the members of the Garden City Chorus who generously gave their time and talent to benefit our musicians and color guard.

These 65 men spent their Friday night serenading an audience of high school students, their parents and grandparents, in a show full of barbershop-style singing, Broadway tunes and old-fashioned fun. And they kept on singing right through the ice cream social put on by the students after the show.

The brainchild of chorus member and Los Gatos resident John Laws, this is the eighth year the award-winning Garden City Chorus has performed as a benefit to the LGHS music program, with donations totaling more than $13,000.

Thank you, gentlemen, for a wonderful evening of entertainment and for your continuing support and generosity to our high school's music students.

Pam Ryder
LGHS Band Boosters

Pardon this catty response, but ...

What's this? A new source of local news entitled "Cat's Meow."

C.M., evidently published by the Town of Los Gatos, and funded out of the "surplus-laden" general fund, is either redundant with the local press or designed to give control of editorial content to local politicians, neither of which justify its existence.

Chuck Weber
Los Gatos

The community helps the Art Docents work

This year the Art Docents of Los Gatos Inc. proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary. The program offers high-quality, sequential visual art education to more than 2,700 Los Gatos Union School District students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Sixty dedicated docents volunteered 6,597 hours of service this year to provide our schools with 500 art appreciation classes, 123 hands-on art workshops and a student art exhibition.

Many individuals and families, too numerous to name, have supported the efforts of this nonprofit organization with generous donations. They recognize the importance of fostering creative learning through art education as a fundamental part of a well-rounded education.

The following civic groups and businesses have also contributed to make the Art Docents of Los Gatos Inc. a viable community organization: the town of Los Gatos, city of Monte Sereno, Los Gatos Union School District, Los Gatos Elementary Educational Foundation. The History Club of Los Gatos, Blossom Hill School Home & School Club, Daves Avenue School Home & School Club, Fisher Middle School Home & School Club.

Lexington School Home & School Club, Louise van Meter School Home & School Club, The Valley Foundation, Ralph Edwards, Pacific Gas & Electric, Caere Corporation, Thomas J. Ferrito, atty. at law, Los Gatos Porch, Mark Dawson--Frame It Art & Design, Mass Mutual The Blue Chip Company--Drew Miceli, Linda Fillhardt Design, Thomas Lackovic & Associates.

Los Gatos Athletic Club, Los Gatos European, Los Gatos Swim & Racquet Club, Mabel's Lantern House Inc., Lynne R. Snyder, atty. at law, Ann Walton--Classe Acte, The Wooden Horse, Big O Tire No. 57, Dolce Spazio Gelato, The Indian Store, Jasmine Chinese Cuisine, Kirk & Bob's Drive-In Pharmacy, Los Gatos Art Supplies, Los Gatos Optometric Vision Care, Paul J. Wilson, O.D., and Timothy S. Coughlin, O.D., 2wenty-9ine East Main Cafe, and Vasona Copytech Center.

Alison Ahmed
Board of Directors

Many thanks to bond supporters

Words fail to express the pride we feel for Los Gatos and Saratoga today, having passed Measure B by more than 80 percent of the vote. To the more than 300 volunteers who worked tirelessly on the campaign for the past four months, we send you our deepest thanks, and apologize for pestering you all day to go to the polls. Finally, to the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board of trustees and superintendent, we send our gratitude for placing Measure B on the June 2 ballot because you recognized the tremendous need to repair and renovate our two excellent high schools. What a great place to live and educate our children!

Joan Hendricks
Co-chairwoman, Los Gatos
Cindy Ruby
Co-chairwoman, Saratoga
Phil Nielsen
Area coordinator, Los Gatos
Judy Johnstone
Area coordinator, Saratoga
Measure B Campaign Committee

SummerHill should be approved by council

As an adjacent neighbor of the SummerHill project on Blossom Hill Road, I was happy to see the Planning Commission approve the project. SummerHill has bent over backward to help the neighbors, and I am one of many neighbors who supports the project. I attended the meeting where the SummerHill Homes project was discussed. The commission, after careful consideration, and several modifications and changes, voted to support a project that will preserve over 66 acres of hillside open space permanently and make it available to the public.

What I like about SummerHill's proposal is that it offers important benefits to our immediate neighborhood and town--expanded drainage system, road improvements, restoration of the orchard, etc.--as well as to residents townwide--dedication of open space, historic preservation, etc.

The SummerHill project is great news for all of us in Los Gatos who want the best of both worlds: sensible and planned growth and preservation of open space.

I would urge the members of the Town Council to support a project that is a winner for our neighborhood, the town and SummerHill.

I would also like to thank SummerHill for their cooperation with the Planning Department, commissions and neighbors.

Bill Mason Jr.
Los Gatos

Neighbors got one concession, at least

Now is the time for me to write this letter about our difficulties with the Calvary Baptist Church for the last four years.

I have never been so proud of a group of people as I am of my neighbors who have been working on this difficult task. Their honesty, integrity, intelligence and common sense was something to behold. Not once did we lie or exaggerate. We did our research thoroughly, so that whatever we said, we had proof.

We have gotten one concession very important to us. The church can buy no more homes on our street for the sole purpose of building "sports fields" as they had intended to do.

One thing that has really confused us is that most of the Planning Commission and the Town Council have made the statement that the church's new addition is too big (30 feet by 300 feet) to be in a residential area. It's been referred to as a Costco-like building, even by Mr. Torres from the church. The church has been asked repeatedly to bring the size down, which they have deemed they're not going to. Are the town officials going to allow the church to build as they please?

Myrna Skala
Los Gatos

A special thanks to LGHS staff

Shannon Ramsay and her parents, Alex and Antje, want to express our heartfelt thanks to the teachers and staff of the Los Gatos High School for their ongoing and thoughtful support during Shannon's high school years. We would like the community of Los Gatos to know that the excellent education and encouragement provided to Shannon, who is blind, have helped her to achieve her best. Shannon will enter Stanford University this fall. This achievement was made possible as a result of the high standards of education of the Los Gatos High School.

Shannon, Alex and Antje Ramsay
Los Gatos

The real pillars are the teachers and administrators

We are all familiar and sometimes take for granted the majestic pillars that provide visible support and add to the breathtaking beauty and grandeur of the entrance to Los Gatos High School. However, we all know the true pillars have always been the human strength that has dwelled within the walls of this 110-year-old institution. It is this guidance, dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence that have withstood the test of time.

As the flame of leadership is passed, we are so grateful to those who will continue to illuminate the halls with their passion for education and, most importantly, who will take the time to illuminate and nurture young minds with encouragement and love.

A teacher's influence is passed from generation to generation.

To the following retirees we salute you for exemplifying the motto of Los Gatos High School: "Honesty of Purpose; Intensity of Effort." We will be forever grateful for your legacy of love.

Administrators-- Ted Simonson (47 years), Al Simon (37 years), Patti Hughes (29 years). Teachers--Jack Cody (46 years), Florence Bell (37 years), Judy Bingman (35 years), Bert Donlon (35 years), Paul Bostwick (34 years), Jan Willoughby (10 years).

Judy Peckler
Los Gatos

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