Los Gatos Weekly-Times Letters Chain stores will ruin quaint community I am writing concerning the rumored opening of a national video chain store on N. Santa Cruz Avenue. I was shocked to hear the rumor that it is moving into Kinko's old location, directly across from The Video Store. How can someone have such little respect for our small businesses? I take this personally because owner Jan Bright is a good friend and has been since I moved here from Orange County three years ago. It is shops like The Video Store and people like Jan that give this town the uniqueness and charm it has. I myself work at a privately owned shop. Although there are now two similar shops in town, we are able to thrive because of the personal customer service we give. Jan and her employees have that same personalized service. How many times has someone come into her store to be greeted by a warm hello and a friendly smile? Or asked about a movie and got an honest review? If this big chain store barges in, the most anyone will get is the occasional shoulder shrug and an "I dunno." I am shocked that we as a town would make a big deal about the name of a sports bar and not think twice about the possibility of two small businesses being run out by a huge company. Los Gatos just wouldn't be the same without the myriad of shops that are owned and operated by our friends and neighbors. Carol Amador Los Gatos Red ribbons will decorate Los Gatos Over the next couple weeks, downtown streets will be festooned with red ribbons. Some residents, especially those without children in school, may be unaware of the significance of these ribbons. The Red Ribbon celebration has its roots in 1985 when a federal drug-enforcement agent, Enrique Camarena, was murdered by a drug cartel in Mexico. To honor his memory, and to show that they would continue his fight against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors wore red ribbons. In 1988, the National Family Partnership, a nonprofit organization, organized the celebration to honor Camarena, to raise awareness about drug abuse, and to involve Americans of all ages in efforts to prevent abuse. CASA (Community Against Substance Abuse) sponsors Red Ribbon Week activities in Los Gatos. The Los Gatos High School PTSA is having its annual health fair on Oct. 22. Jonathan Robinson, co-sponsored by CASA, will speak at both the high school and Fisher. Recent research has shown that more students who have participated in prevention education activities fall in the low-risk category for drug use. It takes more than just one week a year to educate young people to make healthy choices. Red Ribbon Week is just one piece of a complex drug prevention education puzzle. CASA works year-round to provide educational opportunities for parents and students and provide alternate activities for students. We welcome everyone to join us. Kim Bidermann CASA Chairwoman Elks Lodge supports flag and resolution Drive by the Los Gatos Elks Lodge on the corner of Lark and Winchester and you'll notice that the Los Gatos Elks are declaring their love for this country's flag. In this day and age when patriotism has taken a back seat to love of progress, and money, and full-speed development, the Los Gatos Elks have maintained their perspective of values, morality and love of country. It is unfortunate that since 1989, when a narrow Supreme Court decision struck down the ability of patriots to insist upon proper reverence for our national emblem, our flag has become the target of those who would trample on the rights of our citizens for their narrow causes. Many of us have served valiantly in the service of our country, forsaking the niceties and comfort of the shelter afforded by the freedoms others have won for us, to protect and defend our world from such erosion. It is a sad commentary on our very freedoms that we ask our Congress to provide protection for our flag. None of us ever thought it would become necessary to try to legislate respect, but in a day and age where respect ceases to be taught in our homes and schools, a beginning stance must be assumed and a return to values must be undertaken. We support Senate Joint Resolution 40, which is before legislators this fall. We urge its passage, and deplore its necessity. Dave Fletcher Los Gatos Elks Lodge Neighbor was good Samaritan I wanted to let you know my neighbor Jeff Barnell, who saved my baby's life. My "baby" is Megan a five-pound cockapoo I've had and loved for five years now. We go for our morning walk every Saturday. I was only two doors away from my home when a 70-pound dog on the loose came running toward her. There was no warning, and he immediately ran toward her in an attack mode. He made a grab for her, and she broke free and ran in my direction. I fell to my knees and huddled over her while this monster was trying to get to her neck. I don't know what made me put my hand around her neck as she was lying on the pavement, but I did and the dog clamped down on my hand. With my free arm, I tried to hold him back while he was trying to take her away from me. I was willing to die trying to save her if that's what it meant. I was screaming and she was screaming, and what seems like an eternity passed before I saw my 6-foot neighbor running toward us. He grabbed the dog by the nape of the neck and pulled it off of us. Not looking back, I rushed Megan to Johnson's vet, where she recovered with a small wound to her leg. I sustained lacerations on my hand and will be fine. Not only did my neighbor pull the dog off, but he also got the owner's name and number off the tags and left the information on my door. In this time when everyone is lawsuit-happy, and no one wants to get involved, I just think Jeff deserves some kind of recognition for saving my baby's life, and possibly my own. God bless him. Joyce Naggar Los Gatos Now is the time for letters In a cold, empty courtroom, with my dear friend Mary Little seated by my side and the driver with his parents seated directly behind, I sat frozen with anxiety. After I attended nearly monthly court hearings for 21 months, "Guilty your Honor" were the first words I had ever heard him speak. "Count one--with malice aforethought murder James Edward Peckler, a human being ... Count two--With malice aforethought murder Jill Michelle Peckler, a human being. Count three--with malice aforethought murder Jeffrey James Peckler, a human being." The driver, in an unexpected plea bargain, pleaded guilty to all 10 counts as charged. There was no sense of victory or celebration, only shock waves of pain as their names lingered in the air and the precious memories of their lives echoed in my heart. The shallow grave of my partially buried grief was fully exposed again. Now is the crucial time for anyone who wishes to write a victim-impact letter! Address it to: The Hon. Richard Couzens, Placer County Superior Court, c/o Michelle Rickett, Placer County Probation Dept., 11564 C Ave., Auburn., 95603. RE: People vs. Robert Phillip Scott, Case No. SCR-2691. The importance of these letters cannot be overemphasized. We would appreciate any effort in this regard. Remember to request the severest sentence allowable and reiterate the loss of Jim, Jill and Jeff to our community. Please know that your support and compassion has been our source of strength. We ask for your continued prayers as, at last, the loss of our family will finally be addressed and dignified by the criminal justice system. The sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 4 in Auburn. All letters should be mailed by Oct. 20. Judy, Jane and Jennifer Peckler Los Gatos Powder Puff football game was memorable Sunday, Sept. 27, marked the 10th annual Los Gatos High School Powder Puff Football Games. Many of us have been watching and hearing about these games for all of these years from our brothers and sisters. We found that Powder Puff is much more than a football game. This is an event that celebrates and brings together many people of Los Gatos High School and this community. It became an evening full of hilarious moments such as an intercepted pass on a kickoff return (we don't think that is legal) and comical boy cheerleader routines at halftime. It was an evening full of memories, such as a sister crossing the goal line for the first time, or a daughter throwing a completed pass. This night capped hours and hours of work by many. However, there is one person that made this night a night to remember for all of us. That person is Judy Peckler. We want to take this opportunity to let Mrs. Peckler know how we feel and how much we appreciate her efforts to give all of us this evening. One of the great gifts that one can give to another is a memorable moment. Nobody can take that moment from us. Thank you, Judy Peckler, for giving us another special moment to remember. Class of 2002 Powder Puff Football Team, Boys Cheerleaders and Powder Puff Coaching Staff [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, October 14, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.