Los Gatos Weekly-TimesLettersBob Aldrich led others to late-in- life careers, too I just dropped off, at the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, copies of the videotape we shot June 20 at the memorial celebration for Bob Aldrich. As Mayor Joanne Benjamin said at the event, we expect people to live forever, so we forget to say "thanks." Had it not been for a thoughtful gesture on Bob's part, someone else would have recorded his memorial. As a new resident in Los Gatos in 1986, I visited Forbes Mill Museum. Bob was the docent on duty and asked me if I would be interested in becoming a docent. He took my name and told me I would be contacted. Jim Grupp supplied me with a world of information on Los Gatos history, and although I shortly moved to Santa Clara, I remained a docent. I was sending out public service announcements to radio and television stations about museum activities and eventually went to KCAT to get museum publicity there. That led to a retirement "career" in television production, during which I had the good fortune to meet Floyd White and Bob Peck. It was with Floyd's equipment and Bob's able assistance that we produced Mary Foster's interviews (an even 100), plus numerous other Los Gatos informative videos. Had Bob Aldrich not asked me to be a docent, I would have missed 10 years of fun and, I hope, service to the community. I apologize that our video does not include the audience interviews with the remote microphone. It was not on our frequency, and we didn't pick up the sound. Thanks, Bob!
Ed Leary It's good to see positive news about local teens Thank you very much for the article on "The Good Samaritans" in the July 2 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. The organization is great for young people. Not only do they learn to help others, but they develop a sense of responsibility. Anna has grown so much as a member of this group. Also, thank you very much for all the positive things you have printed about our teens. I was so upset when the cheating at Saratoga High School not only aired on the three major networks, but was on the national wire services. Your front-page story helps to counteract this negative publicity about today's youth. Thank you again!
Rose Arnaudo Special-education teachers deserve lots of credit I was pleased and proud to read the article about my son Joe Cintas' selection to the Youth Leadership Forum in Sacramento next month. I am grateful the Los Gatos Weekly-Times recognizes the achievements of all students, no matter the level of success. I do, however, feel the need to clarify a statement that was somewhat conflicting with my beliefs. The article made reference to Joe's "unhappiness" in his special-education classes, and my efforts to have him mainstreamed. Part of that is true; I work very hard as Joe's advocate to always make reasonable challenges available to him while giving him an environment that feels safe. However, I could never have done that without the dedication and expertise of his special-ed teachers, many of whom went well beyond the role of teacher and truly became part of a much more universal goal. My intention was not to get Joe out of special ed because he was not happy there. On the contrary, he received not only excellent academic instruction but the self-esteem and acceptance he so desperately needed to help him move on to mainstreaming as his development progressed. Joe's "unhappiness" was caused by living in his autistic world, and was certainly part of the driving force that helped him emerge. What I would truly like to see is a better understanding of special education and the students it benefits. These are kids who are challenged, not blocked. Often, those with support and determination become successful members of the community, much like their peers whose challenges may not be so profound or noticeable. Joe does not let his disability stand in his way. He believes it is his responsibility to contribute every way he can to make this a better world, and I have no doubt he will do just that. My hope is that in his struggle to reach that goal he will make us all aware of the diversity of contributions we can all make, no matter what our disability might be.
Lynne Bauer Transformers could endanger Charter Oaks As a resident of Charter Oaks, I am appalled that PG&E would even consider placing massive transformers less than 30 feet from homes in my community. I moved to Charter Oaks so that my son and I could live and recreate in a rustic creekside setting away from the industrial problems that plague the large urban areas. Have I had a rude awakening! Charter Oaks townhouses are built of wood siding and shake roofing. The dry pine, eucalyptus and oak trees as well as the natural brush surrounding the development would be downwind from the transformers. One spark, from equipment failure, earthquake or even high winds, and [I fear that] the entire complex could go down without warning. A few summers ago, four custom houses across the street from the Winchester Fire Station were almost burned to the ground when a PG&E wire ignited brush and trees next to those structures. My second major concern is that [I fear there may be] a reduction of property value of Charter Oaks, La Rinconada, and Monte Sereno area. Los Gatos is my home, and I will fight to preserve this tranquil setting. I strongly urge PG&E to find an industrial area for its massive transformers and the accompanying dangers.
Kathleen Searles Crews Here's a solution to the school boundary issue I would like to suggest an additional solution to the school redistricting conundrum that has caused so much concern and controversy. From what I can gather, the primary grievance that has been raised is from parents who live within town boundaries but are excluded from town schools. Ignoring the other apparently irrelevant proposals from the county committee, which seem to aggravate more than they solve, may I suggest that any residence may be allowed to be moved into the Los Gatos school district as long as it satisfies the following conditions: * the residence is within the boundaries of the town; * the residence must be adjacent to property already in the Los Gatos school district, thus preventing fragmentation of the district; * the residents agree to be liable for any additional taxes by virtue of being in the district, thus assuring current residents that the new residents will not get a free ride; * the residents must have children of school age or younger, thus helping to ensure the motivation is education and not property value; * the residents pay a redistricting fee on the order of, say, $10,000, which is paid to the school district, thus helping again to ensure the motivation is education and not property value and to contribute to the increased value they will gain from their new schools. Having satisfied these conditions, I feel sure that most current Los Gatos school district residents, who have already paid a premium for their houses, will welcome all the new parents who have demonstrated their determination to contribute to and benefit from Los Gatos schools.
Simon Patience School-boundary dispute smacks of xenophobia Over the past several weeks I have read and heard how various people within our Los Gatos community feel about the proposed change in school district boundaries. Being a resident of Los Gatos whose children, due to the current boundaries, do not attend Los Gatos schools, my family and neighbors have been indirectly insulted by these uninformed people vocalizing their discontent with one of the proposed new boundary scenarios. If I narrow the crux of their argument, it comes down to this: If we expand our boundaries to include those people not currently within them (even if they live in Los Gatos), it will reduce the quality of the education provided within the Los Gatos Union School District. Reducing the quality of the school district will lower our housing prices, so if you are a Los Gatos resident who currently lives within the school district boundary, you should be opposed to any of the current proposals. Is this some kind of twisted Los Gatos form of xenophobia? We live three blocks from the school district boundary, our houses are well-kept and the people are very kind and friendly. Our children attend Alta Vista Elementary (in Los Gatos), which we consider to be one of the very best schools in the entire valley (it even has a lottery system for admission since so many families want to attend). Alta Vista has tremendous parental support (many of these families even live in San Jose, god forbid), and a huge supply of volunteers. The children at Alta Vista rank very high in test scores. There are no gangs at this school nor any kind of drug problems. My neighbors own businesses in Los Gatos, shop in Los Gatos and pay taxes to support many things in the Los Gatos community (e.g. fire and police departments). Our kids play in Los Gatos, take classes with the parks and rec department, swim at the Los Gatos Swim and Racquet Club, march in the Christmas Parade, play at Oak Meadow Park and even get haircuts at Bunny Cutts! In my humble opinion, people of the Los Gatos Union School District would be blessed if our children attended "their" schools. Is this snobbish, misinformed way of thinking common within those that administer Los Gatos schools? Or are they simply trying to protect their jobs? The question that needs to be answered is: What is best for the Los Gatos community, its schools and its children (mine included)? Regardless of what happens in this "boundary dispute," can some of the people of Los Gatos please end this misinformed xenophobic form of snobbery!
Kevin and Karen Hoch Los Gatans should fight to keep school boundaries With reference to the letter from Adrian Rodriguez in the July 2 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I feel compelled to clarify my previous remarks. In no way did I mean to imply that families currently in the Los Gatos School District but not within the city limits do not participate or deserve to send their children to the Los Gatos schools. On the contrary, my position was and is to preserve the investment all of us have made within the district as it is currently structured. Put another way, I completely agree with the Rodriguez letter with regard to the investments made and do not want to see any changes made, either. In a sense, we are being "invaded" by the people outside our district. The reasons for this proposed "invasion" are very simple--to participate or share in a superior school district that they never paid for in the first place. Yet this "reorganization" could destroy or seriously endanger the very thing they want in the first place. It is difficult to comprehend that a family who bought a home outside the district did not investigate the schools their children would be attending prior to purchasing. In any event, if they want to be in the Los Gatos district, they should move into it as the rest of us have.
Dick Riba
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This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, July 23, 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||