Los Gatos Weekly-TimesLettersTeen Center seeks prospects for its board of directors Teen centers are needed and being established all over the United States. A Place for Teens, known by the teens as "The Outhouse," is a community's dream come true; it was one of the first of its kind, with hundreds of people having worked to establish it over the past 10 years. A Place for Teens is unique in having both teens and adults on the governing board of directors, so it has been an incredible learning experience for both the teens and adults over the years of its development. We are proud that the Outhouse is now being used as a prototype for many other teen centers. The Outhouse, named by teens in a community contest as a safe, fun, supervised, free place for all teens to go, now has wonderful programs and events, speakers, workshops, a computer-study room, a snack bar, a game room, a Teen Empowerment Employment Program, concerts, private birthday parties, middle-school fun nights, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade dances, college bus tours, after-school activities, club and youth group meetings and events--all at this incredible grassroots-developed facility. It is being used like a type of student union, with many different groups of teens using the center for many different purposes and functions. A Place for Teens now has a $90,000 annual budget, with a full-time director and several part-time employees. It collaborates with other teen entities in town. It was built and is now run completely by community efforts and through the generosity of hundreds of parents and community members, with their time, energy, ideas and expertise, as well as their financial support. Some of the longtime activists will be moving off the board soon, and A Place for Teens is actively looking for new adult board members to continue to move this project forward. If anyone in the community has any time, interest in our teen population, or good ideas, and can help out in any way, from helping with publicity to fundraising, grant writing or programming, please contact Gladie Rabitz, 354-7357, or Dru Barth, 354-3956. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
The Board of Directors Neighbors happy for Alta Vista Well, we've all listened to enough whiners from the Los Gatos Union School District part of town. In fact, we've been listening and reading since June of all the evils (although exaggerated) that will befall your schools if the children from the other part of Los Gatos were to become a part of "your" district. Now it's our turn to tell you of all the tremendous sacrifices we would have to make if your children come to "our" Los Gatos school--Alta Vista. We love our school, but with the installation of the one town/one district scenario, Alta Vista would cease to exist as the superb school it is. We would lose the entire teaching staff which is irreplaceable; they are a dedicated, hard-working, closely knit staff, both with each other and with the families of Alta Vista. We would cease to exist as a neighborhood school. We would lose many of our wonderful students and involved families who live in San Jose. Our children would no longer go to school with many of their peers. So give us a break! We all know that this scenario is not going to happen, anyway. But let's make something positive happen out of this reunification process. Stop treating us like second-class citizens, and knock off the "my school is better than your school" attitude, because it's not! All we want to be is full members of the Los Gatos community. So we can't cheer for the Los Gatos football team, well, we'll get over it! We are here to stay, so get used to us. Our kids will continue to play soccer and basketball, and swim at Los Gatos Swim and Racquet. We're really quite nice if you take the time to get off your high horse and get to know us.
Lisa Jones Downtown needs fewer cars, not more parking I read with interest your editorial in the Nov. 26 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, in which you suggest a moratorium on building until a solution is found to the parking problem. The problem is not a shortage of parking; it's an overabundance of cars. With fewer cars downtown, we'd have cleaner air, a quieter atmosphere and a better opportunity to get to know each other--how many people do you talk to while driving? We shouldn't build any more parking spaces; we should encourage people to leave their cars at home. How about charging for parking and using the proceeds to improve public transportation so that there's a viable alternative to driving? If it cost a few dollars to park downtown, maybe those who live within walking distance would walk more often--and if it cost less to take a bus than to drive and park (and the bus didn't take five times as long), maybe those who live too far to walk would take the bus more often. In fact, how about eliminating parking on Santa Cruz Avenue and widening the sidewalk to include the current parking strip? My family and I enjoy walking downtown, but it's a bit unpleasant to be squeezed onto a sidewalk that is barely wide enough for two strollers to pass, while there is plenty of room for two lanes of traffic plus two rows of parked cars. To merchants concerned about losing business if the convenience of abundant free parking is lost, I would suggest that business might actually increase if it were more pleasant for pedestrians. Do people come to Los Gatos because it's convenient or because it's a charming place to stroll? Los Gatos doesn't need more parking, it needs fewer cars!
Doug Bergh Some 'outsiders' wonder why they want into district My husband and I have been following the debate over redistricting of school boundaries. We both grew up and attended Los Gatos schools and now enjoy living in the Belwood community of Los Gatos. Our neighborhood exemplifies what Los Gatos is, or was, all about. We support each other, we enjoy neighborhood parties, and we are a caring community. I believe that many of the residents in our neighborhood feel inclined to investigate becoming a part of the Los Gatos Union School District for reasons other than many people have stated. Money is not the reason people are interested in joining the LGUSD. We--like those Los Gatans who are in the district--also spent a lot of money to purchase our homes. I don't know of anyone who is looking at this issue as a way to make a fast buck. Second, we have Los Gatos police, library, recreation and utilities serving our neighborhood. It would seem fitting that our children also go to school in the same town that provides for these other services. However sensible this may seem, it is not the reason that we are interested in the joining with the LGUSD. Third, our schools in the Union School District do a fine job of educating our children. The teachers in the Union School District are professional, caring and dedicated to their profession. Noddin School recently received the California Distinguished School award. The alleged superior quality of the schools in LGUSD is not the reason we are interested in joining with this district. So, we come down to the reason that we have shown interest in joining the LGUSD. The answer is community. Community is what many people are asking to be a part of. Community is finding your students supported and recognized by the town in which they reside. There is no simple solution to this matter, and we understand that parents in the Los Gatos School District don't want their children's quality of education compromised. We don't want the quality of our children's education compromised, either. I feel saddened and disappointed when I read the bitter and separatist letters which have been written by the LGUSD parents. It makes me question why we are considering joining the Los Gatos educational community. My children don't need to be subjected to the attitudes that have oozed from the letters in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times these past few months. It's a pity that this has created such a division in our town. The opposition shown by the Los Gatos district parents reinforces the reputation that precedes them.
Carol Nolan Correction The Taste column in the Dec. 3 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times incorrectly stated that Steamer's was the only business open at Old Town during the renovation. In fact, the following businesses also are open in Old Town: The Indian Store, Old Town Gallery, Nail Paris, Tharp Did It, McFarland & Associates and McKown Design.
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This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, December 10, 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||