Letters

Former commissioner will not run for council

Yes, as Marcia Fariss points out in her letter printed in the Jan. 12 issue of the Saratoga News, it was my privilege to serve on the Planning Commission for seven years, including a term as chairperson. However, I have no idea what that has to do with voicing an opinion about the way the City Council is conducting itself.

I must insist that Ms. Fariss not speak for me. I am not seeking a seat on the council. If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.

Marcia O. Kaplan J.D.
Sevilla Lane

Sr. Helen has compassion for victims of crime, too

DeCinzo's depiction of Sr. Helen Prejean is such a gross misrepresentation of fact I feel I must defend her, even though I am not in sympathy with some of her positions.

First, as to her "Praise Jesus! I'm Rich" quote, she is in fact very poor. Having taken a vow of poverty common to her order and in keeping with her life as a religious, she lives in one of the poorest sections of New Orleans--she lives in the projects. She accepts no money for her speeches nor has she earned any money from her best-selling novel. All earnings are donated to various charities.

As to her standing among tombstones of murder victims, she has in fact founded a group called Survivors which mentors the families of crime victims, and she is active in Kiaros Outside, which is a group she supports that aids the wives and families of prisoners both financially and emotionally.

I only wish Sacred Heart was a safe venue for her. She is hounded by controversy and pickets wherever she speaks. Sr. Helen is small in stature but has a heart that is full of compassion. It is easy to love the lovable--not so easy to love and forgive those who are perhaps more in need of those gifts.

Yes, her talk will be one-sided, although she never fails to share her compassion for victims and their families. She has been invited for that very reason--to tell her story. Why not come and hear her before you judge? For someone who is not politically correct, she is quite an inspirational speaker. Someone who has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be all bad!

Judith Lawrenson
Glen Una Drive

Hearing aids are not answer for everyone

In the Jan. 5 issue of the Saratoga News, Rita Baum, a gerontologist, wrote an article about hearing loss and hearing devices. Her descriptions of the obstacles and hardships that confront the hearing impaired and their friends and families were accurate and well stated. However, important information was omitted.

I speak as a clinical audiologist (with 30 years experience) and as a speechreading (lip-reading) instructor (for 10-plus years) when I provide the important information below:

* Hearing aids are not "the answer" for everyone with a loss of hearing. Several options are available: aural rehabilitation teaches specific techniques to improve the listeners' ability to understand speech.

Some hard-of-hearing persons need amplification only when attending live theater performances, watching television or attending classes, lectures or church. These people benefit most from Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), which include headsets available in all public-access facilities (including theaters), earphones that plug into the TV and individually worn microphone and earpiece devices.

* Hearing aids can be quite beneficial when the wearer has realistic expectations and the aids are fitted properly. Although today's aids can better meet specific demands of a particular hearing loss, they continue to function as amplifiers only.

* Hearing-impaired individuals should not go directly to "hearing-aid specialists," "hearing-instrument dispensers" or "audioproctologists" (an illegal term which, unfortunately, is used by a few hearing-aid sales people). They should first seek professional consultations from their physicians and/or audiologists, who have national certification and state licensing.

* For example, the popular completely-in-the-canal aids may be adequate for one person and entirely inadequate for another; dual microphones may be perfect for one wearer but inappropriate for another. Technology has progressed to where severely to profoundly deaf individuals who are unable to benefit from "standard" hearing-aid technology can have cochlear implants. Implantable middle-ear aids are highly experimental and at this time, few professionals have a high level of confidence in them.

* Cheap hearing aids are of poor quality and/or are inadequate; most good quality instruments cost between $900 and $3,500 each. Currently, the most expensive aids are programmable and/or 100 percent digital instruments.

Hearing loss can be a life-altering experience, but with proper evaluation, counseling and recommendations, no one needs to suffer. With professional guidance, hearing-impaired individuals and their loved ones can successfully participate and enjoy our auditorily biased world. It is accurate to state that hearing-impaired individuals realize the best results when they combine visual (speechreading) and auditory information (hearing aids, assistive listening devices) with support from loved ones and patients with themselves.

Marcia Fariss, M.A., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist & Speechreading Instructor Saratoga Glen Place

Commercial conversions have negative effects

I'd like to make a few general observations about the conversion of commercial property to residential use. My comments are not directed toward any particular proposed conversion. My concern is with the impact of the conversions that have been made over the past 10 years and with the precedents and expectations that they have created. A conversion from commercial to residential use typically has the following negative effects on the community as a whole:

Effect 1: Intensification of the use of already overcrowded schools and parks, and, in some instances, exacerbation of traffic and parking problems.

Effect 2: Adverse impact on quality of life as a consequence of the reduced availability of retail and service businesses.

Effect 3: Reduction of sales-tax revenue. This minor effect seems, unfortunately, to be perceived by some as the key issue.

We would all benefit from more good retail stores and service businesses in the city. However, if commercial land prices are driven even higher in anticipation of more approvals of conversion to residential, then it will be even tougher for businesses to succeed. I sympathize with people who put money into planning a development and then don't get the approvals that they hoped for.

However, no one is automatically entitled to a huge profit on his or her property, nor should it be expected that every square foot of land in every commercial zone has equally high value. Balanced land use generally involves a wide range of values in commercial properties. For example, rental storage lockers are in extremely short supply here and would be very useful to many residents, but no one will build them if they think they can make a lot more money by converting to residential use.

When a developer proposes a commercial-to-residential conversion on property adjacent to existing residences, it is not surprising if the immediate neighbors strongly support the development. Who would not rather have a residence than a business on the other side of their lot line? But because negative effects impact the city as a whole, shouldn't the entire community have an opportunity to participate in the decision?

I understand that the City Council plans to look into the possibility of a ballot measure on this subject. A thorough analysis of this issue will serve well the long-term interests of the city.

Don Whetstone
Vickery Avenue

Stolen-car detection device may help police find car thieves

Commentary: Criticize less, volunteer more

Comment period begins on Argonaut School expansion

Obituary: Joseph Biondolillo

Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Board member James Smythe starts his own production company

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

Youth baseball, softball signups

High school basketball