Los Gatos Weekly-Times Letters Passerby deserves heartfelt thanks On the afternoon of Nov. 23, while driving my children home from Daves Avenue school in the pouring rain, I was involved in a nasty auto collision. Luckily, no one was hurt, though there was extensive damage to the automobiles involved. While I was attempting to reach the Los Gatos Police Department on my cell phone, a man arrived on the scene who did his best to help. The other driver was very distressed, so he moved her car so that it wouldn't be blocking traffic, and also took the time to chat with my two children and see that they were all right. As I was very distracted, I didn't notice that he had left the scene until he returned soon after with candy and juice for my children. I would like to say a heartfelt "Thank you!" to the kind stranger who took the time to do a good deed. His actions were thoughtful, generous and helpful. My children were happily occupied with their treats while I attended to the business at hand. I regret not being able to express my appreciation adequately at the time. Robin Rudell Los Gatos Monte Sereno mayor, vice mayor ought to make things right The editorial in the Dec. 9 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times and Jeff Kearns' article about the goings on at Monte Sereno's City Council deserve some comment. In reflecting on what transpired last week, the new three-member majority casting aside more than 40 years of tradition [in following a rotation to determine the mayor and vice mayor], to get even, makes me recall the old adage--the only thing worse than a bad loser is a bad winner. Mr. Kearns was right on when he said it was payback time, and they went all out for it. I did get a laugh out of being referred to as "vendetta driven." Is this not the pot calling the kettle black? We're accused of not being "team players." This needs translation. What this means in Monte Sereno is that you become a card-carrying member of the "Mutual Admiration Society, the MS Chapter." You know how that goes--you gush over me and I'll gush over you. Team play? That's buzz words for that Club. I tore up my membership card a year ago. I was not cut from that cloth. Jack Lucas refers to a so-called "hit piece" Gordon Knight and I sent out during the campaign which didn't support his or Suzanne Jackson's candidacy. It's astounding that he rails about this when several days before the mailing of our letter, it was he who was passing around town a two-page diatribe against me personally, and I wasn't running for anything! What am I missing here? Mrs. Jackson refers to that flyer as being full of "lies, fabrications and stretches of the truth." If there is anything she can point out that was in error, I'll be happy to make a public retraction and apology. So what's the real reason behind their uncalled-for power grab? What are the three afraid of? Why do they feel threatened? We've not been advocating some crazy, wild-eyed agenda. Sure, I have pushed for change, the very things we talked about two years ago, but there is no hidden agenda. There's nothing new. Are these two so thin skinned and frail that they can't handle spirited debate and campaigning without feeling threatened or abused? Except for pure and simple personal revenge, there was no need to do what they did. They command three of the five council votes, so there is nothing Mr. Knight and I can accomplish without their concurrence. Their action was a humiliating slap in the face to me and Mr. Knight. It also spat in the face of the more than 47 percent of the voters who did not vote for them. I call for all three of them to correct this unjustified and inequitable action at the next council meeting. Shortly after his re-election, Mr. Lucas pledged to "try and bring the council back together." I challenge him and others to make that happen by reconsidering last week's election of mayor and vice mayor. It is not too late for this council's majority to make things right, to show they can be fair and high-minded winners. You are correct, we need to bury the hatchet and smoke a peace pipe so we can get on with addressing some important problems that need the cooperative attention of all five of us. Joel Gambord Monte Sereno City Councilman High praise for Andrew Fanelli I have known Andrew Fanelli for the past 13 years as a student, friend and now as my instructor in the martial arts. During that time I have found him to be responsible, resourceful and of the highest character. As an educator who has spent 22 years in the classroom and on athletic fields, I have become somewhat adept, I feel, at not only judging character but forecasting people's probability for success. Andrew is one of those people who I'm certain will succeed at whatever he pursues. In my profession, integrity is an extremely critical trait, and for me to willingly place myself under the authority of a former student requires that I fully trust that person. Perhaps there is not a greater recommendation I can give than to say that when my 2 1/2-year-old son Kyle is of age, he will study under Mr. Fanelli. I give him the heartiest endorsement to you as a man of integrity, persistence and a kind heart. Scott S. Downs Art Dept. Chairman Football and Wrestling Coach Los Gatos High School Fanelli's detractors are poor losers in the election This letter is written to clarify the many false accusations that have been written and published in your newspaper recently. The letters written recently have disturbing overtones of individuals who have been defeated and are still unable to move on and continue their stiff and boring lives. In response to some of the questions that have become issues regarding Andrew Fanelli, Andrew listed "teacher" on the ballot, not in an attempt to deceive the community, but because he is a martial arts teacher. His career consists of teaching and instructing children and adults in the fundamentals and necessities of life--self-esteem, honor, loyalty, work ethic, motivational skills, team work, discipline--something many school teachers spend a lifetime or career on and are never fortunate enough to pass on and make an impact on the lives of children. He truly believes in his heart that he is a universal teacher, which is much more than "pluses" or "minuses." Andrew Fanelli can be beneficial to the school district; he brings youth, enthusiasm, energy, dedication, innovative ideas and a genuine interest in the children of Los Gatos. These qualities are practiced by Mr. Fanelli on a daily basis through the operation of his karate studio. The amount of negative reaction by such individuals, which I assume to be connected to the Barry Bakken camp "cult" has consisted of nothing less than scare tactics, verbal attacks and threats directed towards Mr. Fanelli and his family. If these detractors were truly concerned with their children's education and well-being, they would have channeled and directed their energy in a more productive fashion. The negative letters containing personal issues of Mr. Fanelli's life are apparently meant to slander, demoralize and ultimately have him resign from the board. Mr. Fanelli has received an enormous amount of positive support that will encourage him to perform an admirable job for the LGUSD. One could only imagine the negative energy exercised by Mr. Fanelli's detractors if only directed initially in the Barry Bakken campaign --who knows?--he might have had a fighting chance to win. Mr. Fanelli won the campaign based upon his good reputation in the community. One of seven children, he was born and raised in Los Gatos and attended the school district that he will now proudly serve. Although the detractors would have us believe Mr. Fanelli is an unknown who fell out of the blue, the fact remains that Mr. Fanelli has been present all along. Why is it so hard for individuals to comprehend his intentions to run for the school board and give back to the community from which he received so much as a child? The fact remains that it doesn't take a Ph.D. or parent of a child to be able to effectively communicate with parents and children alike and integrate those thoughts and ideas productively into school-board issues. The school board consists of four additional board members who will work in conjunction with and assist Mr. Fanelli with many issues. The letter-writing campaign by Mr. Fanelli's detractors should really be interpreted as an attack on the registered voters of Los Gatos insinuating incompetency and lack of forethought, and suggesting that the majority of the voters (3,400) are uneducated and uninformed as they submitted their vote in the election. Again, I think the town of Los Gatos and the school district should be insulted with the negative and counter-productive attacks on Mr. Fanelli. Jason Aaron Baca Los Gatos What's with paper's cartoonist DeCinzo? I find that many of Steve DeCinzo's editorial cartoons are mean-spirited and go beyond the bounds of opinion to personal attacks. I am curious about Mr DeCinzo. Is he a youngster who doesn't, but should know better? Or perhaps he is a crotchety old man. At any rate, by maintaining his presence prominently on your opinion pages you do your otherwise tasteful and fine journal a disservice. Are you that hungry for content? Alan Caras Manager, Los Gatos Vacuum & Sewing Center [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, December 16, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.