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Letters
Teams for Little League All-Stars not picked fairly
As a grandmother who has watched Little League for many years I think this needs to be said:
The Los Gatos Little League commissioner, president and managers (the board) met June 10, to go over the results of the secret ballots submitted by the coaches. These votes were supposed to determine who would best represent Los Gatos in the All-Star Tournament. The votes were then deemed only suggestions, and the teams were selected, coincidentally including most of the coaches' sons on the board.
In the end, some boys who had more votes and were more qualified did not make the all-star teams.
This all happened after another pathetic situation during regular season play, where the coaches of one of the Major teams implied to their players that if they would lose the last game to the Pirates, they would have a better standing in the post-season tournament. The coaches positioned the players on the field accordingly, and gave them suggestions on how to lose the game.
When many parents complained, they had the nerve to deny what they had done.
These men have all lost perspective on the overall picture, and are trying to relive their own youth through their sons and hand them everything they did not achieve. These men have missed an opportunity to teach their sons, by their example, integrity, morals and good sportsmanship, qualities that are scarce with this group. These virtues could have been an even better life lesson than being on an all-star team, or winning a tournament.
The result of a group of people, such as these, making their own rules with careless disregard and self-righteousness, is that people eventually find out what happened and the situation explodes, which it has. Normally good and caring people lose control when they find out and snap. Although there is no excuse for violent behavior, the board needs to look to themselves and accept their responsibility in the aftermath.
Take your arrogance off the field and let the kids play ball.
Helena Fischer
Hollister
Where the boys are--really, where the heck are they?
Hey, where are the men? Graduation coverage by the Los Gatos Weekly-Times showed 10 close-up photos of girls and zero of boys! With the abundance of feminine beauty and intellect present at this special Y2K event, the cameraman's affinity for such material is natural. Was there not just one available male picture for the editor to pick? A gender-biased newspaper? Of course not. Honest oversight? Must be.
Of the 15 four-year colleges mentioned, Cal-Poly is receiving the greatest number of Los Gatos graduates but was not named. And, yes, over 75 percent of local Poly-bound students are guys.
More important, the distinguished Los Gatos High School teaching staff again offers this year's graduating seniors a premier opportunity to be the best of the best!
Ron and Linda Fink
Los Gatos
We will never again send two guys to cover graduation.
--Editor
Missing banners have reappeared
Back in 1995 the Los Gatos Downtown Association asked local artists to submit a banner to be used during the Cat's Festival. Following the festival nine of the banners mysteriously disappeared.
In searching last week the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee uncovered them in an attic area at the corporation yard in Los Gatos.
If we can locate the artists we will return the banners. If you submitted a banner, please call 408.354.7878.
Shirley Henderson
Los Gatos
Strangers helped avert a tragedy on Highway 17
Please help me in my quest to find some truly special people. This is extremely important to me and as you read on you will understand why.
On Friday, June 23, at approximately 6:30 p.m., I was riding my horse Boo at Lexington Reservoir on Alma Bridge Road. Just east of the dam the cinch on my saddle broke which caused both the saddle and me to fall. As I jumped up and tried to grab the reins, Boo spooked and bolted away from me. He took off at a full gallop, straight for Highway 17.
One woman who was on a walk tried desperately to stop him, but she was not successful. Another man offered to go back to his car, which was at the bottom of the trail and come back up to help. Two other people, Krista and Mitch, were riding their bikes toward me when this all happened.
They began to chase Boo and attempt to catch up to him. A few minutes after Boo, Krista and Mitch disappeared around the bend, I watched with absolute fear and helplessness as Highway 17 slowed to a stop and began to back up. My heart sank as I imagined the worst.
From what I was told, Boo bolted directly onto Highway 17 in the middle of rush-hour traffic. Without hesitation, Krista was right behind him on her bike. I understand that Boo was about to jump the k-rail that divides the north and south bound lanes but Krista intercepted him, caught him, and brought him back to the shoulder of the highway.
Then, as though nothing had happened, Krista and Mitch started walking Boo back the mile or so to meet me. Another woman and her son picked me up and drove me to meet them half-way as another picked up my saddle and brought it home for me.
As I write this letter I visualize what a terrifying event took place. This potentially tragic situation turned out incredibly. Something that could have been fatal, not only for Krista, Mitch, or Boo, but also for the people driving on Highway 17, ended with not even a scratch.
The angels were watching over me that day and sent me six people to whom I owe much more than just a thank you in passing. If anyone knows who these people are, please have them contact me through the newspaper. I would like the opportunity to thank them properly. The two on bikes, Krista and Mitch; the gentleman who ran back to get his car (an orange blazer with a company name on the side); the woman and her son who picked me up and somehow found my house and returned my cell phone; the woman who desperately tried to stop Boo; and Fawn, who picked up my saddle and took it home.
Margi Brown
Los Gatos
Los Gatos has become a nice place to visit
I grew up in Los Gatos in the early '50s and graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1960; the town was a fantastic place to grow up then. Frequent walks to the creek, hunting trips on the stagecoach trail up at the Novitiate, walks through all the orchards to eat green, then ripe fruit.
I return frequently to visit family. Los Gatos is a great place to visit now, like Venice or Florence, Italy. But to live in these places? I see crowded, high-cost living conditions (why discuss the future of high-density housing ... it will come for sure unless there is a great economic retraction in the nation), awful, high taxes and not much time to enjoy all the toys that all that money brings.
So I stay in Anchorage, Alaska, instead of building on family property in Saratoga and retiring. Sure, I am old and reminiscing, but consider selling while the price is high and moving somewhere where you get to really enjoy life in better tax and living surroundings.
Franc G. Fallico, M.D.
Anchorage, Alaska
Coach Harmatz is a man of talent, integrity
In response to the letter from Fred Norris in the June 14 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times: For the past 22 years Los Gatos High School has been fortunate to have one of the finest coaches in America, Willie Harmatz. He's had more league, CCS and personal CCS championships than any other coach in this time span. He's one of the most dedicated people I've met. His passion for track and field is inspiring.
Coach Harmatz is a man of very high moral standards, and highly respected by his athletes, former athletes, family, friends and hundreds of loyal clients.
I and all who know Willie are 100 percent certain he would never suggest or teach an athlete to purposely elbow another athlete. (FYI, bumping and elbowing are quite common in the elite track races, as runners jockey for position.)
I just wanted to clear the air of any misunderstanding that Mr. Norris may have caused in his totally false assertion. We think Willie is the greatest. Because of his dedication and hard work for minimum pay, not only has Los Gatos High a dynasty in track, but Los Gatos is a very well-known "runners town" evidenced by the world-class runners who compete in his "All-Comers" meets. We're lucky to have him, and it's too bad people like Fred Norris have to try and knock a good man down.
Chris Hennessy
San Jose
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
