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Letters
Serious swimmers can't compete in the LGHS pool
I am writing in support of the efforts to raise money to support the swimming pool replacement at Los Gatos High School. I, along with a small core committee, have worked hard for over a year to raise approximately $700,000. As of Oct. 1, we are still $700,000 short and the time has come to focus the community on the need to replace the pool. Design and construction must start now in order to have the new facility for the fall of 2001.
I am the parent of sophomore and senior at LGHS who play water polo and swim. Both are nationally ranked swimmers and top CCS water polo players. Many in the community may not know that although the LGHS water polo team is and has historically been one of the best teams in CCS, they cannot practice or play at the LGHS pool.
More frustrating is the fact that my oldest son, Bobby, who was the nation's fastest 11th-grade, 100-yard backstroker last year cannot even swim the backstroke in the LGHS pool. Approximately 50 percent of an elite backstrokers race is swum at a depth of five to six feet below the surface of the water. The LGHS average depth is less than four feet! Equate this to a six-foot, eight-inch basketball player playing basketball in a gym with at five-foot ceiling or a 400-meter track star running her race on a 50-meter track!
Please help us complete our fundraising efforts. Visit out website at www.lghs.net/thepool, or call 408.799.3168.
Bob Crowder
Los Gatos
Swimming pool needs support of community
Many of you have seen the banner at the high school that proclaims "Please donate $700,000 by Sept .30." Well, we didn't make it. At the present time we have $615,000. By the way the sign did help raise a significant amount of funds.
We (the pool committee and the community) are grateful. We could build a lesser pool, but do you really want to do that? We all know that excellent facilities for our community reflects a sense of civic pride. The original pool design would allow our men and women's water polo teams, swimming team and diving team to practice together.
It would also attract coaches that would be more willing to make a long-term commitment.
Have you ever wondered why you have never heard of a water polo game at Los Gatos high school? (Pretend you wondered.) That is because we do not have a pool deep enough. Our kids practice in the brand new Saratoga High School pool or at West Valley College. It's great to be driving your teens around late at night so they can use the hosts' pool when the hosts are done.
I truly believe our future generations deserve better. At the present time a new pool (done right) will cost about $1.4 million. Five years from now that will seem cheap. So please, could somebody help find us (through your company or personal means) at least $600,000. The district will lend us the rest.
We cannot start construction until we have 90 percent of the funds. Once the pool is funded, construction will start immediately. We could have a pool by late spring. Just in time for future generations to start taking swim lessons through the recreation department.
Mike McMurray
Los Gatos
Winchester site will find much resistance here
More than 4,000 residents of the town of Los Gatos were forced to unite in order to stop PG&E and the town of Los Gatos from building a natural gas service station on the extremely small town lot located at Lark and Winchester (Goodwill truck lot). Well, here we go again!
The town's latest proposal for this property is to build a skateboard park with public restrooms that would be less than 80 feet from residences and next to one of the busiest intersections in Silicon Valley.
We strongly recommend that the town council, Steve Glickman and Sheri Richter go back to the drawing board to come up with a location that will not be detrimental to the safety of Los Gatos youngsters, as well as the transient teens and young adults that will, indeed, descend upon a skateboard park at this location.
As residents of the La Rinconada area of Los Gatos and taxpayers, we cannot support the expenditure of $350,000 plus cost of maintenance to construct such an attractive nuisance that will seriously jeopardize the tranquillity and safety of our neighborhoods.
The two major problems with a skateboard park at Lark and Winchester are the potential for serious injury and the nonavailability of parking. This intersection is extremely dangerous--cars, trucks and kids do not mix! The seriously injured motorcyclist we recently saw lying on the ground being attended by paramedics after being hit by a truck could easy be a potential skateboarder en route to the proposed park.
The surrounding residential neighborhoods of La Rinconada area do not need nor will they tolerate random cars parking in their quiet neighborhoods in order to accommodate the skateboarders' special interest group.
Parking spaces at Courtside Club, Vasona Professional Office Center, Wimbledon town homes, and the Charter Oaks are currently filled to capacity. So when a "soccer mom" attempts to drop off her little skater or a teen/adult from one of the neighboring cities cruises by to "check out the action," there will be no place to park!
Hopefully common sense will prevail on the part of our elected officials. We are not interested in having another ill-advised project dumped in the La Rinconada area because no other part of town wants the problem that would be associated with housing a skateboard park.
William and Ann Burns
Los Gatos
Erin Garner understands Monte Sereno
We want to thank Erin Garner, who is running for Monte Sereno City Council, for sending out his newsletter to the citizens of Monte Sereno. The newsletter was informative and thought-provoking on the issues facing our town.
We agree with Erin on many issues, including his idea of increasing communication to the community. Too often we have heard of concerning issues when it has been too late to have a voice. We also believe in his positive position on homeowners rights.
We have to preserve the beautiful community in which we live. Monte Sereno's current zoning regulations are well conceived. They protect the community, and they allow homeowners to improve their homes, within guidelines, if they choose. Erin Garner seems to understand what Monte Sereno needs, which is not a lot of change.
Jim and Lynn O'Brien
Monte Sereno
Erin Garner proves he's a straight talker
I'm responding to the letter by Dorothea Bamford in which she criticizes Erin Garner for doing a good job publishing the Monte Sereno Monthly Newsletter.
Talk about passive-aggressive! It was unclear at first whether Ms. Bamford supported it because it was done so well, or if she would not support it because it was done so well. (Typical politician.)
On the other hand, we need more straight talking, hillside and open-space protectors like Erin Garner instead of politicians.
Terry McElroy
Los Gatos
Neighbor asks thief to please do the right thing
It has always been a source of joy to me that for the past 20 years, while living in Los Gatos, that the location of my residence has a constant stream of neighbors walking past my door to or from town.
A year ago, thinking it would be nice to offer a place for people to rest while walking to Bachman Park or other destinations, I bricked in an area next to an almond tree to extend the sidewalk, freshened up an existing bench with new paint, adding one more thing from my favorite talk show hostess, imprinted with "Now, go do the right thing."
Looking out my kitchen window sometimes I would see the elderly resting, a mother with a small child sitting and even an occasional jogger catching her breath. Several times in the spring I thinned out my daffodil and calla lily bulbs, placed them in bags, put them on the bench, with "free" tags on and within hours the bags were gone. A neighborly thing to do.
So why this week, when I looked out my window, is my bench gone, stolen. Why? Did someone object to the wording of "right thing" to do as a wrong thing?
If anyone finds a green painted bench with beige metal arms with the above wording on, please return the bench and--please, do the right thing.
Joyce Bahnsen
Los Gatos
Garbage, garbage everywhere and no one to pick it up
It has been my misfortune in not having my yard waste picked up three times this year, and I feel that our town should do something about the poor service.
The first time it occurred, I called the disposal company and the material was picked up by evening. The second time, I was directed to the company service dept., and after a few minutes wait, was informed that it would be taken care of, and so it was. The second time, I had three containers that the gardener filled and only two were picked up. Last Friday, my container was completely ignored.
I called the company, and through their elaborate phone system, directed again to the company representative who handles such matters. First I get a message stating that all representatives were busy and to please stay on the line until the next one was available. Then came the loud screaming music, which was enough to drive any sane person crazy.
I placed the telephone a good 12 inches from my ear and waited. After two tunes and a radio announcement, I hung up. This had to be at least five or six minutes. All I wanted was to get my waste material picked up. I called back and asked for the manager, gave my name, and then was told she was busy and would I like her voice mail. By now I have spent a good 10 minutes for what, just because the disposal company wasn't doing their job.
Customer's time doesn't mean anything to them. How simple it would have been for the operator in the first place to take my name and address and pass it on to the proper person.
While I am on the subject of service, why is it that the person who empties the yellow, green and blue containers, can't put them back on the curb when he empties them instead of leaving them on the street where cars park?
I am sending a copy of this letter to the town manager and hope it will be a bargaining issue the next time the disposal company wants a raise. Also I have talked with a number of seniors and the question has come up, why are they not given a special rate? The town gives a franchise to the company and I am sure collects a fee for the franchise. Do bids go out for this service?
If anyone else has experienced this problem, I suggest you call the town manager.
Bill Quigley
Los Gatos
Newcomers offer a few suggestions to improve town
As a new resident of the town of Los Gatos, I would like to consider myself an outside observer. An unbiased opinion you might say. Since living here and walking and driving around the downtown area, specifically Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue, I noticed three things that I would like to bring to both the Los Gatos Weekly-Times and the town council's attention:
First, what's the deal with dog poop on the sidewalks? In particular on Main Street near Los Gatos High School. More than once, my wife and I have been walking and it's like, "Watch out, land mine!" I consider myself a dog person and it seems to me that people could do one of two things. First, they could [if the dog(s) is on a leash] simply lightly pull the leash so the dog does not begin to defecate and steer the dog to some bushes, ivy or lawn.
Anywhere but the sidewalk! Second, they could carry plastic bags and scoop it up and throw it away. Certainly, there is an ordinance or law. But, as with most laws, it comes down to an enforcement issue.
Second, while my wife and I are walking on Main Street toward Santa Cruz Avenue, we sometimes turn right on Church Street toward Forbes Mill and then walk over Highway 17 using a pedestrian bridge. Now that summer is over and it gets darker earlier, we both noticed how very dark it is walking over the bridge. We both thought it was odd that there were no lights illuminating the bridge.
Secondly, it would seem to make sense for either the town or the retail outlets at the redone Old Town to illuminate or clean up the bridge in general.
This would increase foot traffic to Old Town since you can enter through a large wooden door and up some stairs. Actually, it looks like they are planning on opening some stores below the California Cafe. Just a suggestion.
Finally, as soon as Los Gatos High School reopened for fall classes, big surprise, tons of cars backed up from the stop sign at Loma Alta Avenue. It seems very rare to actually see a car turning left from Loma Alta Avenue on to Main Street.
Most cars are turning right on Main Street, which is a yield. That's not a problem. I would like to suggest that either a police officer or volunteer direct traffic from the intersection of Main Street and Loma Alta Avenue, giving priority to cars coming from Los Gatos High School towards Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. This police officer or volunteer would only have to do this for two hours, from let's say 7 to 9 a.m.
Just a few suggestions to improve an already beautiful town.
Peter Emanuel
Los Gatos
Waiting for help ... and finding it
Last week I waited for road service with my car after nightfall at the corner of Bachman and Massol.
In the hour I waited, two neighbors driving by offered help--a nice feeling. But more impressively, a total of eight individuals driving by stopped to ask if I needed help. That averaged an offer of assistance every five minutes.
That hour experience with a caring community reminded me after almost 30 years here, why I live in Los Gatos.
Paul Quintana
Los Gatos
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
